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A benign neoplasm that usually affects the inner corner of the eyelid is called xanthelasma. Usually it does not cause any discomfort, except for aesthetic beauty, and also does not develop into a malignant tumor. However, this does not mean that it is not necessary to treat such a disease at all.
How to get rid of such an unpleasant disease? At the moment, there are many different methods of treating xanthelasma, but only complete removal of the tumor will help completely eliminate the tumor.
What is eyelid xanthelasma
Such a neoplasm looks like a plaque on the surface of the skin of the eyelids, flat and soft to the touch, usually yellow or orange. Both single and multiple formations can be formed. Xanthelasmas do not cause physical inconvenience and are absolutely painless.
Most often they appear on the upper eyelid, both on the inside and on the outside of the eye. The size of such neoplasms can reach a large bean. In the case of multiple xanthelasmas, they are either a continuous line that stands out on the upper eyelid, or merge with each other and form tubercles.
Such a disease appears unexpectedly, and this is not preceded by inflammatory processes of the eyes or eyelids. Xanthelasma develop rather slowly, growing in the later stages to large sizes. But usually a doctor is consulted in the early stages, since xanthelasma looks unaesthetic and spoils the appearance, which is especially true for the female. But even large neoplasms do not pose any danger to human life and health and do not degenerate into malignant tumors over time.
The disease can develop in violation of lipid metabolism. In this case, xanthomas (or xanthelasmas) can also appear on the lower eyelids and in general on other parts of the body: on the face, neck, on the mucous membrane of the upper palate, on the lips, and even on the folds of the limbs. Such tumors are usually tuberculate formations, reaching sizes of five centimeters.
In some cases, such nodules merge into one continuous line, forming a large tumor consisting of small lobules. Without proper treatment, xanthelasmas do not go away, they remain for life, gradually growing. And as the disease develops, more and more formations will arise.
The appearance of xanthelasmas in children may be one of the signs of a severe genetic disease that is inherited – hypocholesterolemic xanthomatosis. This disease is quite serious and entails disruption of the liver, heart and blood vessels, and also has a destructive effect on bone tissue. That is why when such formations appear in a child, an urgent consultation with a geneticist is necessary.
Causes of xanthelasma
No one can say with certainty what exactly is the cause of the development of this pathology. There are only a few possible factors influencing their appearance:
- Violation of lipid metabolism. Xanthelasmas equate to xanthomas, identical with them in their structure. And since the appearance of xanthoma is associated with a violation of the fat balance in the body, the same reason is attributed to the appearance of xanthelasma. However, the latter, in turn, differ from the former in a localized area, and the results of the analyzes do not show significant deviations in lipid metabolism. However, most often such formations occur in people with high blood cholesterol, obese, chronic pancreatitis, liver dysfunction and diabetes mellitus.
- hereditary factor. It is believed that disorders of cholesterol balance have a genetic predisposition and are inherited. Therefore, such pathologies can occur even in early childhood. Moreover, representatives of the weaker sex are most susceptible to this disease, while in men it is much less common.
Diagnosis and treatment of the disease
When such formations appear, it is necessary to consult a dermatologist or endocrinologist. A qualified specialist can make a diagnosis after the first visual examination, based on the nature and location of the elements.
To diagnose such a disease, diascopy is most often used, in which the doctor presses on the plaque with a glass slide. This causes blood to drain from the tumor and reveal its true yellow color.
Also, for complete certainty, they offer to take tests for a lipid profile, which helps to detect lipid metabolism disorders in the body.
If visible violations of the fat balance are detected, the treatment, as a rule, is aimed at its normalization and elimination of the causes that caused it. Timely and qualified treatment of diabetes mellitus, fatty liver or other diseases greatly affects the development of this disease and prevents the occurrence of subsequent neoplasms, as well as the growth of existing xanthelasmas.
In such cases, therapy is individual for each specific concomitant disease. Hepatoprotectors, drugs for the treatment of liver diseases, as well as against psoriasis, various vitamin complexes are often prescribed.
To lower cholesterol levels, drugs such as Cetamiphene, Diosponin, lipoic acid, Lipamide and others are used.
Medicinal herbs and fees are also very popular: dandelion roots and birch buds, rosehip broth and plantain, corn stigmas. All these plants have a choleretic effect, which contributes to the normalization of metabolic processes in the human body.
But these drugs also have their contraindications. They are not recommended for those patients who suffer from bile duct dyskinesia, because in this case bile is poorly excreted from the body.
Another point in the treatment of xanthelasma is diet therapy. With such a disease, food that contains a large amount of cholesterol is completely excluded from the diet: eggs, animal fats, fatty varieties of fish and meat. The emphasis is on dairy products, foods rich in fiber, fresh fruits and vegetables, valuable minerals and vitamins.
Such methods of therapy can stop the development of the disease and prevent the growth and appearance of new formations. In order to completely get rid of the tumor, it is only necessary to remove it.
Xanthelasma removal methods
There are several ways to remove benign neoplasms:
- surgically;
- laser;
- electrocoagulation;
- cryodestruction.
The surgery is performed under local anesthesia. The xanthelasma plaque is cut off with a scalpel and cauterized with an electrocoagulator. If the damaged area is large, then cosmetic sutures are applied to the resulting wound, after treatment with an antiseptic solution. If the xanthelasma was small, then it would be enough to treat it with an iron sesquichloride solution, as a result of which a dry crust forms on the wound. After about a week or ten days, the skin is completely healed.
Laser removal is the most modern and safest of all possible methods. It allows you to avoid possible complications and protect against recurrence of the disease. This technique is distinguished by the absence of contraindications, the rapid healing of the resulting wounds, as well as a short rehabilitation period. With this option, with the help of a laser beam, layers of neoplasm tissues are alternately removed and, at the same time, capillaries are cauterized. Healthy tissues are not damaged, and if the doctor’s recommendations are followed, the resulting wounds heal in a very short time without causing any complications.
The electrocoagulation method is designed to remove small tumors. In such cases, the xanthelasma are cauterized with an electric current, anesthetizing them before this local anesthetic solution.
Cryodestruction is also used to remove small neoplasms using extremely low temperatures. To do this, xanthelasma is exposed to liquid nitrogen, as a result of which the tumor is frozen, forming a wound covered with a dry crust. You can not tear it off so as not to bring the infection. As it heals, the crust will fall off on its own, and healthy skin will be in its place.
Any method of removing xanthelasma does not exclude the appearance of postoperative scars and seals on the eyelids, which greatly complicate the movement of the eyelids. In order to prevent their occurrence or promote resorption, hydrocortisone ointment is used. It is applied twice a day to the damaged area of the eyelids. The duration of treatment is approximately three weeks.
Treatment of xanthelasma folk remedies
Traditional healers also have in stock effective ways to deal with xanthelasma. For these purposes, various medicinal herbs and components that promote the resorption of neoplasms are used.
honey cake
To prepare such a miracle cure, you need:
- flour – one tablespoon;
- liquid honey – one teaspoon;
- egg white – one piece.
All ingredients are mixed together. Small cakes are molded from the resulting mixture, which are applied to the affected area and held for about ten to fifteen minutes. With regular use of such a remedy, the tumor resolves two to three weeks after the start of treatment.
Medical collection
For preparation it will be required:
- rose hips – 100 grams;
- mint – 100 grams;
- immortelle – 75 grams.
Three tablespoons of the resulting mixture pour 600 grams of water and cook for three minutes over low heat. After insisting the resulting broth for four hours, filter and drink 150 ml half an hour before meals. The therapy is carried out for a month, then it is stopped for two months. Then repeat again if necessary.
Diet and lifestyle for xanthelasma
Since a common cause of such neoplasms is a violation of the fat balance in the body, experts recommend making significant adjustments to your lifestyle and daily diet.
The use of moderate physical activity, long walks in the fresh air, increased physical activity and a healthy diet normalize metabolic processes, which will be a high-quality prevention of this disease and help avoid the occurrence of new xanthelasmas.
The dietary program for such a disease completely excludes the use of food rich in cholesterol. Butter is banned. It is replaced by vegetable fats. Meat and fish are used only lean varieties.
The basis of a nutritious diet is foods rich in fiber, useful vitamins and minerals. These are fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats and fish, vegetable oils, and dairy products. All these products greatly contribute to the removal of harmful cholesterol from the human body.
Under the ban is fast food, so beloved by many, white bread, flour products. Preference in this case should be given to bran bread. And replace pasta and rice with dishes from buckwheat, oatmeal or corn grits. You can also eat peas, beans or lentils.
The drinking regimen is also very important. You need to drink up to one and a half liters of pure non-carbonated water per day, as well as green tea, berry fruit drinks, compotes and juices.
It is necessary to completely exclude alcohol, sweet carbonated drinks from the diet, and stop smoking. And also pay attention to your health, and treat chronic diseases in a timely manner.
In conclusion
Xanthelasmas are benign neoplasms that most often affect the eyelid area. Their appearance is associated with metabolic disorders in the body, as well as with hereditary factors. Be that as it may, they must be treated, although such a disease does not bring any physical discomfort and does not turn into serious illness. But it significantly spoils the aesthetic appearance, which can cause emotional distress.
Conservative treatment of such a disease will only stop its development and prevent the growth and appearance of new formations, but will not completely eliminate the tumor. To once and for all forget about this problem, xanthelasma must be removed. This can be done in various ways, but which one needs to be decided with the attending physician.
It will not be superfluous to maintain a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition in order to prevent repeated possible relapses, as well as to protect yourself from the occurrence of such a disease in the future.