Xanthelasma of the eyelids

The appearance of yellow spots on the eyelids is called xanthelasma.

The formations are frightening to patients because they may indicate serious systemic diseases.

Such manifestations can be single or multiple. As the disease progresses, their number increases. Also, neighboring formations can merge with each other. To identify the true causes, it is recommended to undergo diagnostic tests, and then receive the necessary treatment from a doctor.

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Causes

There is fat metabolism in the human body. It refers to the movement of lipids throughout the body, their absorption and breakdown. If any stage is disrupted, xanthelasmas may form. There are also other reasons for the appearance of such segments on the skin of the eyelids:

lipoid nephrosis – damage to the glomeruli of the kidneys, which forms swelling of the subcutaneous fat;
obesity – an increase in body weight above normal volume, which disrupts fat metabolism in the body,
inflammatory liver diseases, including hepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis;
complications of diabetes mellitus leading to disruption of various types of metabolism.

This means that the formation of xanthelasma is a sign of a systemic disease. If you just eliminate fatty deposits on the skin of the eyelids, they will return again within some time. Therefore, the doctor needs to identify the root cause.

Causes of spots on eyelids

Spots on the upper eyelids can be red, yellow or white, reaching several millimeters, protruding above the skin and all of them will indicate problems in the body, especially in the cardiovascular system . Recently, a connection between spots on the eyelids and problems with the heart muscle has been established. Previously, this was considered only as a cosmetic defect, so treatment was aimed only at eliminating yellow or white spots.

Photo 1: More often, white and yellow spots in the eyelid area appear in people after 30 years of age, which is due to sufficient accumulation of subcutaneous fat. Source: flickr (xanth photos).

Red and, less commonly, white spots on the eyelid indicate the following disorders:

allergic dermatitis;
dysbacteriosis;
demodicosis;
hemangioma.

White spots are also associated with pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract ; they can accompany gastritis or peptic ulcer disease.

Yellow spots or xanthelasma are associated with the circulatory and cardiovascular system , namely increased cholesterol levels.

Yellow spots on the eyelids or xanthoma do not have accompanying manifestations, therefore all attempts to eliminate it are often associated only with the direct removal of the plaque in a cosmetology office. To do this, specialists use laser, electrocoagulation or surgical method.

Note! Getting rid of an external defect does not solve the main cause of this phenomenon, therefore treatment should be approached comprehensively.

The cause of xanthelasma is the accumulation of lipids under the skin, which indicates a violation of metabolic processes in the body. Thanks to the yellow spot on the eyelid, hidden diseases of the liver and other organs can be detected , including pancreatitis, cirrhosis, nephrosis, myxedema and high cholesterol.

Xanthelasma itself is not dangerous; it is a benign formation that can be removed without consequences .

It is important to understand the causes of stains. An examination of the digestive organs and an assessment of the functioning of the immune system will be required. To diagnose the cause when a yellow spot appears on the eyelid, you need to contact an endocrinologist and dermatologist.

You will need to take a blood test and undergo a study of metabolic processes in the body. Differential diagnosis will be carried out with benign or malignant skin tumors, pseudoxanthoma, syringoma.

Dermatitis and eczema

Dermatological pathologies can manifest themselves in the upper eyelid area. Red spots are more common, but white and yellow areas can also be seen. When considering this phenomenon, you should consider the accompanying symptoms to help determine the underlying cause.

Red and white patches may indicate dermatitis or eczema . In the first case, inflammation of the skin occurs due to the influence of allergens.

In addition to spots on the eyelids, the following symptoms of dermatitis are observed :

swelling of the eyelids, pain when blinking;
itching in the area of the spots;
redness around the eyes;
the appearance of bubbles with exudate;
formation of small ulcers.

Dermatitis with manifestations on the eyelids can be triggered by contact with chemicals, exposure to high or low temperature, or infection.

Photo 2: Eczema also often shows its symptoms on the eyelids in the form of red or white spots. This will be accompanied by itching and flaking of the skin. Source: flickr (Daniel Chan).

Other risk factors

In addition to the main reasons, the appearance of red, white or yellow spots on the eyelids can be associated with many systemic diseases.

What diseases appear on the eyelids

Demodicosis . This is a skin lesion caused by Demodex mites. Parasites are often found in feather pillows and they are present in the body of every person. The disease develops only if the immune system is weakened , therefore treatment requires the administration of immunomodulators and general strengthening of the body.
Dysbacteriosis . Violation of the intestinal microflora often manifests itself on the skin; in addition to spots on the eyelids, you can feel severe itching and peeling of the skin .
AIDS . Immunodeficiency syndrome leads to damage to various organs and systems. On the skin it manifests itself as purulent wounds and peeling . Spots on the eyelids may be one of the symptoms or a response to treatment with specific drugs.

Note! The cause of spots on the eyelids may not be the disease itself, but some means for its treatment. Antibacterial drugs disrupt the microflora, which leads to the appearance of yellow or white spots. Therefore, it is always recommended to take medications in parallel with antibiotics to restore the microflora.

Symptoms

If the cause of the condition is inflammatory liver disease, the following clinical symptoms may be detected:

sharp or dull pain in the right hypochondrium;
the formation of spider veins under the skin;
exhaustion of the body;
nausea, vomiting, flatulence, heartburn;
thickening of the phalanges of the fingers.

If the yellowing of the skin is a benign formation called xanthelasma, a small bulge in the form of a plaque forms in a person’s eyes. It has a yellow tint and there is no pain when pressed.

Benign yellowing can occur in people of both sexes, but most often it appears after 45 years of age.

Diagnostics

If the patient consults a doctor, he will conduct several diagnostic tests to confirm or refute the presence of systemic diseases:

Patient interview. The doctor asks if he has a history of diabetes, kidney disease, or other pathologies. Also learns about his heredity. Perhaps the patient will independently complain to the doctor about the symptoms that appear.
Examination of a person. The doctor examines the affected skin surfaces on the eyelids. During palpation, the patient will not experience pain or other discomfort.
General clinical analysis of blood and urine, blood biochemistry. With the help of such tests, it is possible to identify the norm or abnormality in the cellular composition of the blood. If liver pathology is observed, biochemical markers will increase. These include ALT, AST.
Ultrasound of the abdominal organs. Perhaps a disturbance in fat metabolism appeared as a result of inflammatory diseases of the liver, kidneys, pancreas and its ducts.
Biopsy of material from a fatty formation on the eyelid. Subsequently, it is subjected to histological examination. It determines the normal or malignant process in cells.

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After receiving all the data from the study, the doctor can make an accurate diagnosis. Only after this does therapy begin.

Yellow circles around the eyes

The health of each person is often revealed by his appearance.
The condition of the skin, hair, nails and teeth can tell about many diseases and ailments. However, most of us do not pay enough attention to the external symptoms of the body and attribute everything to lack of sleep, stress and overwork, while the reasons may lie far from these. The face is one of the first parts of the human body to react to health problems. Rashes, swelling, the appearance of wrinkles, changes in the color of the whites of the eyes and skin, all this indicates problems in the human body and even the presence of cancer cells. One of the signs of health problems is yellow circles under the eyes.

In the article we will reveal the causes of the disorder, diagnosis and treatment methods, and also talk about how to get rid of the problem at home and preventive measures.

Treatment

The method of therapy depends on the diagnosis that caused the disease. Most often, doctors use the following treatment methods:

a diet with which the patient loses weight, normalizing lipid metabolism, eliminating excess cholesterol in the blood;
elimination of bad habits that affect the condition of internal organs, including the liver and kidneys (drug addiction, alcoholism);
drugs that reduce the concentration of lipids in the blood;
adjustment of insulin in the treatment of diabetes mellitus;
hepatoprotectors that prevent the destruction of the liver cell membrane when exposed to negative environmental factors or internal toxins of the body;
surgical removal of xanthelasma, after which the resulting wound is cauterized;
cauterization of the formation using electrocoagulation, that is, exposure to electric current discharges;
laser removal, considered the highest quality method for eliminating xanthelasma, which does not require pain relief, damages tissue in small quantities;
removal with liquid nitrogen, used for small sizes of xanthelasma, which is carried out under the influence of low temperatures and freezing.

If the formation has been eliminated using various surgical methods, the patient then undergoes a rehabilitation period. A person needs to stick to a diet and not be in direct sunlight often. Daily treatment with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drops is necessary to prevent the development of a pathological process on the thin skin of the eyelids.

Prevention

To prevent the formation of yellowing on the skin of the eyelids, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

high-quality nutrition that does not overload the body, especially various parts of the gastrointestinal tract;
drinking a large amount of water per day, at least 2.5 liters per day, to saturate the body with fluid and prevent dehydration;
if there are not enough nutrients in food, it is recommended to use multivitamin preparations, which contain all the necessary vitamins, minerals, and trace elements;
timely treatment of systemic diseases, if they cannot be completely cured, it is necessary to take them under control with the help of medications;
periodic visits to doctors, especially if the patient has pathology of the skin with the appearance of inflammation and benign formations on the surface.

The use of all preventive measures will not be able to completely prevent the risk of developing diseases, but will significantly reduce them.

Prevention of yellow circles under the eyes

It doesn't take much to prevent yellowing of your skin. We have already talked about getting enough sleep (the sleep duration recommended by experts is 7–8 hours), not smoking, not drinking too much alcohol, leading an active lifestyle and eating a balanced diet. In sunny weather, use a thin layer of SPF cream and wear sunglasses.

If something bothers you, do not delay in contacting a medical facility.

By following not many recommendations, if there are no serious diseases, the problem of yellow circles under the eyes will disappear by itself. You will not only gain an attractive appearance, but also relieve your body, which will have a beneficial effect on your well-being and overall health. If you still have a genetic predisposition, then use modern cosmetics.

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