How To Get Rid Of Xanthelasma In South Africa
Overview
If you’ve got bumpy yellow patches on the inside corners of your eyelids or around your eyes, you might have a condition known as xanthelasma palpebrarum (XP).
A xanthelasma is a soft, yellowish, fatty deposit that forms under your skin. It’s not harmful, but in rare cases it may be an indicator of possible heart disease. That’s why it’s a good idea to have it checked by your doctor or a dermatologist.
Who Gets It?
The condition is rare, but you can sometimes get it if there are high levels of cholesterol or other fats in your blood. It’s also possible to get it even if your cholesterol levels are normal.
Most people who get it are middle-aged or older. It’s more common in women than in men. If you have it, you should have your cholesterol checked with a blood test.
What Causes It?
About half the people with xanthelasma have high cholesterol. You’re more likely to get these growths if you have:
- High LDL (“bad”) cholesterol or low HDL (“good”) cholesterol
- Inherited high cholesterol (your doctor might call this familial hypercholesterolemia)
- Liver disease called primary biliary cirrhosis, which can raise cholesterol levels
It’s most common among people whose families are from Asia or the Mediterranean.
How To Get Rid Of Xanthelasma In South Africa
1.Cryotherapy:
This involves freezing the xanthelasma with liquid nitrogen or another chemical.
2.Laser surgery:
One type of laser technique, known as fractional CO2, has been shownTrusted Source to be especially effective
3.Traditional surgery:
The surgeon will use a knife to remove the xanthelasma.
4.Radiofrequency advanced electrolysis (RAF):
A 2015 study found this technique to be effective at eliminating or reducing xanthelasma with very few cases of recurrence.
5.Chemical peels:
One small study showed that more than 90 percentTrusted Source of participants who underwent treatment with tricholoroacetic acid (TCA) experienced satisfactory to excellent results.
6.Medication:
A study published in the British Journal of OphthalmologyTrusted Source suggests that the statin drug simvastatin (Zocor) — which treats high cholesterol — may also treat xanthelasma.
Outlook
Xanthelasma is usually harmless, but it may be a sign of an underlying issue with your lipid levels. It may also be an early warning sign of heart disease.
Talk to your doctor if you notice any fatty deposits around your eyes so they can evaluate you for any underlying conditions. Some treatments won’t be covered by insurance, so talk to your doctor about all of your options and make sure you’re aware of all costs before beginning treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Which treatment is best for xanthelasma?
Commonly cited treatments include topical trichloroacetic acid, liquid nitrogen cryotherapy, and various lasers including carbon dioxide, Er:YAG, Q-switched Nd:YAG, and pulse dye laser. However, traditional surgical excision has also been used.
Is there any medicine for xanthelasma?
Xanthelasma in eyelids can have a high recurrence rate, especially in cases of high lipid levels. It is also important to note that there are no proven xanthelasma home treatment/ home remedies.
Can xanthelasma be squeezed out?
Xanthelasma are cholesterol-filled plaques and can’t be squeezed out.
Can I remove xanthelasma myself?
They aren’t harmful, but if you don’t like the way they look, your eye doctor can help you get rid of them. Even though it won’t hurt you, xanthelasma could be a sign that you’re more likely to get heart disease. So don’t ignore this skin condition, and get it checked out by your doctor.
Does garlic remove xanthelasma?
Nor should you waste your time on any of the myriad old wives’ tales surrounding xanthelasma. Applying garlic, for example, will cause your eyes to burn and may even injure them but it won’t get rid of those little yellow patches.
Should xanthelasma be removed?
Most of the time, xanthelasma doesn’t cause problems for the patient. This means that xanthelasma removal is usually viewed as a cosmetic procedure (even if underlying medical problems have contributed to the xanthelasma formation).
Why do I have xanthelasma?
About half of patients with xanthelasma have elevated lipid levels that are commonly associated with hereditary forms of high cholesterol or certain liver diseases. The other half of patients have normal cholesterol levels. Xanthelasma are more commonly associated with patients of Asian or Mediterranean descent.
Do cholesterol deposits on eyelids go away?
Cholesterol deposits around the eye are known as Xanthelasmata. They are usually harmless and do not affect vision or the functioning of the eyelid. However, some people may wish to have them surgically removed for cosmetic reasons.
How do you use trichloroacetic acid for xanthelasma?
Topically applied dichloroacetic and trichloroacetic acid are described in the literature for the treatment of xanthelasma. Typically, the technique involves painting the lesions using a cotton-tipped applicator in a circular fashion with the greatest amount of acid applied at the margin of the lesions.
Why do Xanthomas form?
Xanthoma is usually caused by high levels of blood lipids, or fats. This may be a symptom of an underlying medical condition, such as: hyperlipidemia, or high blood cholesterol levels. diabetes, a group of diseases that causes high blood sugar levels.
Apply a camouflage cream over the whole of the eyelid to cover any xanthelasma deposits. Use a colour that is a couple of shades darker than the natural shade of the lid. This is the key to covering the patches and making any raised ones less obvious.
Can cholesterol deposits go away?
In some cases, once you get your blood lipid levels down, the xanthomas will go away on their own. If not, you can speak to your doctor about having them removed.
How long does it take to remove xanthelasma?
Eyelid xanthelasma removal is an outpatient procedure. The surgery is simple and painless and takes no more than 30 minutes. You will be given a local anesthetic, which may sting, but after that you will feel no pain at all.
Does xanthelasma come back after removal?
It is possible for xanthelasma to return in the same area or another area even after treatment. This is one of the main reasons why we do not advocate surgical removal of the xanthelasma as it can leave a scar and further surgical excisions may end up in excess skin removal.
Does lemon water lower cholesterol?
According to the latest research, lemon juice may help lower cholesterol levels and improve cardiovascular health. These benefits are largely due to the high levels of flavonoids and vitamin C found in the juice.
Is turmeric good for cholesterol?
A review of controlled trials found that turmeric or its active component curcumin can lower total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL (Nutrition Journal, Oct. 11, 2017).
How common is xanthelasma?
Xanthelasma is a rare disorder in the general population, with a variable incidence of 0.56 to 1.5% in western developed countries. The age of onset ranges from 15 to 75, with a peak in the 4th to 5th decades of life.
Is banana good in high cholesterol?
The fiber and potassium in bananas can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. If you’re a fan of bananas, your cholesterol levels will thank you. Like all fruits, bananas are a good source of fiber, especially soluble fiber. Eating more of this type of fiber has been found to help lower cholesterol.
Can hypothyroidism cause xanthelasma?
Approximately 50% of patients with xanthelasmas have abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels, and these lesions have been associated with hypothyroidism, cirrhosis, and nephrotic syndrome.
Can you tell high cholesterol from the eyes?
One ocular sign of high cholesterol is a bluish ring that forms near the outside of the cornea, the otherwise clear, front part of the eye. These rings, called “arcus senilis,” appear most commonly with age as more cholesterol gets deposited into the cornea.