Xanthelasma Treatment & Management

Xanthelasma Treatment

Xanthelasma are yellow plaques that occur most commonly near the inner canthus of the eyelid, more often on the upper lid than the lower lid. Xanthelasma palpebrarum is the most common cutaneous xanthoma.

 

Xanthelasma can be soft, semisolid, or calcareous. Frequently, they are symmetrical; often, 4 lids are involved. Xanthelasma have a tendency to progress, coalesce, and become permanent.

 

The term xanthelasma is derived from the Greek xanthos (yellow) and elasma (beaten metal plate).



How is xanthelasma treated?


The removal of xanthelasma can be performed in a number of ways:

Surgical excision - direct surgical excision is a viable method of removal, however, it tends to leave scars. Furthermore, due to the recurrent nature of xanthelasma, further surgical resections may be required.  As there is a finite amount of skin that can be excised without causing problems, the number of surgeries performed may be limited.


Resurfacing with an Erbium or Carbon dioxide laser - these lasers can be used to ablate (vapourise) xanthelasma so that becomes more


Removal of xanthelasma with radiofrequency - radiofrequency devices can cut and coagulate tissue simultaneously without causing much heat energy transfer to the surrounding skin. This is more suitable for larger xanthelasma lesions.

 What is involved with treatment?
 
 At St Mellion Cosmetic Clinics, we advocate the removal of xanthelasma with laser or radiofrequency rather than direct surgical excision.
 
Usually the area is numbed with a nerve block or anaesthetic injection directly into the area to prevent any discomfort from the treatment.
 
For laser treatments, it is necessary to protect the eyes from the laser, so eye shields need to be worn. Often these are internal eye shields need to be placed and these can be put in after the use of local anaesthetic eye drops.
 
Finally,  the Erbium or Carbon dioxide or radiofrequency machine is used to flatten the xanthelasma down to skin level.
 
 Can xanthelasma return post treatment?
 
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.
 
With laser or radiofrequency, the treatment can be repeated without scarring or removal of skin.