Xanthelasma: What can you do about them?

Xanthelasma is a skin condition that causes yellowy or beige plaques to appear around the eyes. More specifically, these plaques form around the inside of the eye contour, near where it meets the nose, on both the upper and lower eyelids. Xanthelasma can spread to the whole eyelid.

These plaques, as well as being unsightly, are often a sign of certain medical conditions. The plaques are filled with lipids, which can be a sign of high cholesterol in the body.

In addition, the appearance of xanthelasma should be monitored closely, because it can be a sign of cardiovascular complications.

What are the causes of xanthelasma?

The appearance of xanthelasma on the eyelids is primarily caused by hypercholesterolemia. Therefore, this skin condition appears on people with high cholesterol. It is important to note that high cholesterol is a relatively hereditary condition. This means that xanthelasma can have genetic causes.

The main cause of xanthelasma is mainly linked to the causes of high cholesterol, i.e. a diet high in fat, lipids or sugar, but also smoking, alcohol and general lifestyle.

The white blood cells in the blood absorb foreign bodies, which in turn absorb fat (lipids). A ball of fat then forms which sits under the skin around the eyelids.

What are the treatments for xanthelasma?

Xanthelasmas are rather unsightly. These small patches are not the same colour as the skin, they stick out and they make your eyes look heavy.

But cosmetic medicine makes it possible to remove xanthelasma from the eyelids.

The most common method is to treat the xanthelasma with a CO2 laser. The treatment aims to project a beam of light onto the xanthelasma in order to absorb it. When the ray comes into contact with the skin, it creates a thermal reaction which burns away the patch of fat. The patient must wear an anti-UV mask to protect their eyes from being damaged.

Another technique that is just as effective as the laser is Plexr® plasma energy which removes the xanthelasma using biostimulation of the epidermis and the dermis.