What causes xanthelasma?

Xanthoma of the eyelid is a disease mainly caused by impaired skin metabolism. It is a type of xanthoma and is named because it usually appears on the eyelids. Although xanthelasma has no obvious symptoms, it still has a significant impact on one's image due to its obvious location. In order to avoid the occurrence of xanthelasma, it is important to find out the cause and take active prevention measures. So, what causes xanthelasma? Let’s take a look below.

Middle-aged people are more likely to suffer from xanthelasma, and the incidence rate in women is higher than that in men. Xanthelasma is common in the inner canthus of the eyelid, and some patients may have orange or yellow patches on the affected area. The patient will develop a rash on the affected area, which is symmetrically distributed. Most patients will not experience particularly obvious discomfort, but it will have a certain impact on the patient's appearance.

Causes

It is a lipid metabolism disorder. Most patients have hyperlipoproteinemia and/or hypercholesterolemia.

Clinical manifestations

1. More common in middle-aged people, especially women, with or without hyperlipidemia.

2. It often occurs at the inner canthus of the upper eyelid, and is a symmetrical, long, yellow or orange patch.

3. The rash is symmetrically distributed soft orange-yellow spots or plaques.

4. No subjective symptoms. Although there is no discomfort, it obviously affects the patient's appearance.

examine

Blood lipid examination often shows hyperlipoproteinemia and/or hypercholesterolemia.

diagnosis

The diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms and laboratory tests.

treat

1. Check for hyperlipidemia.

2. Pay attention to controlling your diet and eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol, and low-sugar diet.

3. It only affects the appearance. If there is no special condition, no treatment is required. If necessary, freezing, laser, etc. can be used. In traditional treatment, oral Chinese patent medicine is taken to regulate the body's immune function and solve the problem of low immunity; then Chinese medicine powder for removing warts is applied externally to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, soften and disperse nodules, clear away heat and detoxify, and soften warts. Taking it internally and treating it externally can achieve the effect of treating the same thing at the same time.

Clinical manifestations of xanthomas

Skin lesions are yellow, brownish yellow, orange-yellow or yellow-red papules, nodules and plaques. Most patients have no subjective symptoms and can be divided into several types.

1. Xanthelasma

Also known as xanthoma palpebrae, it is the most common type of xanthoma and is more common in middle-aged women. Skin lesions often occur at the inner canthus of the upper eyelid and are distributed symmetrically. They are soft orange-yellow rectangular or polygonal rashes or patches. They may exist alone or in multiples. A few may fuse into a horseshoe shape. They may exist for a long time and rarely heal on their own. Most patients have no subjective symptoms and the disease is often associated with other types of xanthomas. It can also occur in patients with various types of familial hyperlipoproteinemia, especially familial hypercholesterolemia.

2. Tendon xanthomas

Skin lesions often occur on the Achilles tendon and extensor tendons of the hands and feet. They can also occur on the periosteum of bony protrusions such as the ankle, tibial tuberosity and elbows. They are not adhered to the skin and the overlying skin is normal. This disease is common in patients with familial high cholesterol.

3. Tuberous xanthomas

Skin lesions often occur on the extensor surfaces of joints, most commonly the elbows and knees, but may also affect the ankles, finger (toe) joints, axillae, groin, face, buttocks and mucous membranes. In the early stages, they are millet-sized papules, light yellow or orange-yellow nodules, which are soft in texture. They may become flat or raised, solid, round nodules with fibrosis, and some may fuse into plaques with a diameter of up to 5 cm. Patients often have no symptoms and can be seen in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia and familial abnormal beta-lipoproteinemia.

4. Eruptive Xanthomas

Skin lesions often occur on the buttocks, shoulders, hands, arms and the extensor side of the knees. They are pinhole-sized or larger yellow or orange papules that appear in batches or suddenly. In the acute phase, inflammation is obvious, with a red halo around them, which may be accompanied by itching or tenderness. There may be isomorphic reactions, which may disappear on their own after a few weeks, leaving pigmented scars or hypertrophic scars. It is more common in patients with hypertriglyceridemia, mixed hypertriglyceridemia, and elevated plasma very low-density lipoprotein or chylomicron concentrations, and can also occur in patients with secondary hyperlipoproteinemia and diabetes.

5. Flat Xanthomas

Skin lesions can occur anywhere on the body and appear as yellow or orange spots or flat plaques with clear boundaries. They are divided into subtypes such as diffuse flat xanthomas, palmar (line) xanthomas, intertriginous xanthomas, and cholestatic flat xanthomas.