What is xanthelasma of the eyelids? You can't do it without surgery!

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What is xanthelasma of the eyelids?

Xanthelasmas are formations that belong to the subtype of xanthoma, but unlike them, they cannot degenerate into malignant tumors and do not pose a danger to the patient’s vision .

The danger of such skin plaques can only be present if they arose as an indirect symptom of more serious pathologies.

Translated from Greek, the word “xanthelasma” means “golden-yellow plate.”

Attention! This phenomenon occurs in the vast majority of older women, which is due to more frequent disorders of lipid metabolism in the female body compared to men.

Plaques can form mainly on the upper eyelids , spreading from the inner corners and rarely moving to the periocular space.

They are soft to the touch and resemble wen or blisters, and their presence for the patient himself can be either noticeable (if the xanthelasmas are large enough) or invisible.

Basically, such plaques cause more psychological discomfort than physical , but if such extraneous manifestations are detected, it is advisable to undergo an examination by an ophthalmologist to confirm that this is not a sign of hidden dangerous diseases.

White spots on the skin: photodermatitis

04.10.2021

What to do if white spots appear legs , chest Will this really stay forever?

White spots on the body, especially in the indicated places, are a manifestation, that is, a symptom of a particular disease. Very rarely, in individual cases, spots are an independent disease. It is important to know whether pigmentation appeared on its own, or whether it is a consequence of past rashes, vesicles, papules, pimples , etc. This is a very important point, one might say that it is key in making a diagnosis. A correct diagnosis guarantees correct treatment.

In most cases, the described spots on the skin are a manifestation of the so-called “sun allergy”, or more precisely, photodermatitis. This allergy does not mean that if you go out into the sun you will always get spots. Photodermatitis is caused by the fact that ultraviolet rays react with certain substances on the skin or in the skin, forming spots. Very often, the spots are preceded by a rash, or “pimples,” but it happens that just spots appear, which can be either white or any other color.

Photodermatitis is divided into exogenous and endogenous. Accordingly, exogenous dermatitis is a reaction of ultraviolet radiation with carcinogenic substances on the surface of the skin. Such substances include cosmetics (deodorants, creams, ointments, perfumes, lipsticks, etc.), pollen, and other substances released by the environment.

As a remark, you can make the following: The most carcinogenic substances found in perfumes and most often causing photodermatitis include: Eosin, para-aminebenzoic acid, retinoids, essential oils, salicylic acid, mercury preparations, phenol. Also, spots of this type can appear after cosmetic procedures ( peeling , tattooing, etc.)

Endogenous photodermatitis is caused by an ultraviolet reaction, or by ultraviolet reaction products in the skin itself. Especially often, photodermatitis manifests itself in diseases of the liver , gastrointestinal tract, and endocrine system .

You need to understand whatever dermatitis or other disease is, it is primarily an allergic reaction , against the background of decreased immunity .

If your problem appeared in the spring, when the sun begins to shine more and warmer, and all the plants begin to turn green and bloom, then we can assume that this is an allergic reaction . Moreover, the stains appeared in those places that are covered with clothing in winter, and become exposed with the arrival of warm weather.

Whatever the reason, be sure to consult a dermatologist and allergist . It is rare to achieve a quick positive result by simply adjusting your lifestyle, although this is extremely important.

You need to take a number of antihistamines, use special ointments, creams or gels, and apply special cosmetic procedures.

We hope our answer helped you and you will soon solve your problem. We wish you and your loved ones all the best.

Published in Dermatology Premium Clinic

Symptoms of the disease

Xanthelasma of the eyelids are yellowish plaques , when palpated the patient does not feel pain .

In some cases, such formations are not
pointlike , but are combined into a continuous stripe .
Typically, plaques develop at about the same time on the eyelids of both eyes.

The appearance of plaques is not preceded by any serious visible changes in the skin.

The size of a xanthelasma can vary from a match head to a small pea, while a fully formed plaque will no longer undergo physical changes and transformations.

But over the years they will increase in size, and their number will also gradually increase.

Diagnostics

Keep in mind! To diagnose xanthelasma, there is no need for special diagnostic procedures, since these plaques are easily identified by most physicians.

But if this phenomenon is detected, the patient must undergo additional examination by an endocrinologist and dermatologist .

In each case of detection of xanthelasma, patients are instructed to undergo an examination designed to identify problems with lipid metabolism .

Diagnostic measures

A medical examination will help determine the main cause of the appearance of cholesterol plaques on the face.

Patients are prescribed the following diagnostic measures:

Differential diagnosis will allow you to distinguish cholesterol plaques from other neoplasms (synignoma, syphilis, oncology, elastic pseudoxanthoma). Based on the results obtained, the doctor will select the most effective treatment.

Treatment of xantilasma

Elimination of xanthelasma is only possible through surgery, which can be performed in different ways:

1. Cryodestruction . Objects are burned with liquid nitrogen, causing them to die.
2. Laser processing . Plaque tissues are evaporated sequentially and layer-by-layer using a directed medical laser.
3. Chemical destruction . Treatment is carried out with trichloroacetic acid.
4. Electrocoagulation. The formations are exposed to high-frequency current, resulting in local tissue destruction.
5. Classic surgery using a scalpel . In this case, the formations are excised and separated from the eyelid.

You should know! Each method has its pros and cons in terms of aesthetic effect, and also depends on the size of the plaques.

Is treatment and removal possible at home?

Despite the popular folk methods of burning out xanthelasma at home, it is impossible to achieve complete, safe and painless removal at home.

In the best case, this approach will leave a person with scars on the eyelids; in the worst case, serious damage to the tissue of the eye and loss of vision are possible.

Treatment with folk remedies

Treatment with folk remedies is also unacceptable , but such recipes can be used after surgery to speed up the healing effect.
To do this, you can use rose hips, mint and immortelle leaves and mix them in the same ratio (one hundred grams of each ingredient).

The mixed components are crushed and three tablespoons of the product are poured into three glasses of water.

Next, the composition needs to be boiled for ten minutes and left to stand for four hours.

The cooled product, filtered through gauze, is taken orally, four times a day in equal portions strictly thirty minutes before meals.

Average cost of xanthelasma removal in Russia

Depending on the type of surgical intervention, the cost of xanthelasma removal in Russian clinics will vary greatly.

The average cost of a classic type surgical operation will be 3,500 rubles for one plaque.

In other cases, the cost will range from 300 rubles and above, and the maximum price for removing formations will be as follows:

• electrocoagulation – 1,800 rubles;
• laser removal – 5,000 rubles;
• cryodestruction – 2,000 rubles.

The cost of other types of operations is discussed on a case-by-case basis with representatives of the selected clinic.

Prevention

There are no exact recommendations for prevention of xanthelasma.

Need to know! Experts can only give general recommendations that will help patients get out of the risk group and avoid the appearance of such formations with age:

• monitor your weight and introduce more healthy foods into your diet;
• add foods containing fiber , and also eat up to three hundred grams of vegetables and fruits daily;
• Replace animal fats with vegetable fats , but consume them in reasonable quantities;
• drink at least 1.5 liters of water per day ;
• exercise regularly ;
• try to give up smoking and alcohol ;
• control metabolism , if necessary, visit a nutritionist and endocrinologist.

Changes in diet and lifestyle

The bulk of cholesterol (80%) is produced by the liver. The remaining percentage (20%) enters the human body with food. It is necessary to adjust your diet and adhere to a certain diet.

Helpful recommendations from your doctor will help you change your lifestyle:

• it is necessary to give up bad habits (alcohol, tobacco, drugs, overeating);
• it is important to drink more clean liquid;
• engage in regular physical activity;
• walk more in the fresh air.

A person is recommended to sleep at least 8-9 hours in order to get up in the morning with a feeling of vigor and complete rest.