The appearance of xanthoma may be due to excess cholesterol

Xanthomas, or skin focal neoplasms, inside which fatty inclusions are determined, most often do not cause unpleasant subjective sensations in patients and are more disturbing from an aesthetic point of view. However, the appearance of xanthoma indicates a serious violation of lipid metabolism in the body.

Xanthoma is characterized by a peculiar violation of lipid metabolism with the deposition in the tissues of various fatty substances (phospholipids, cholesterol, neutral fats). There are several types of xanthoma. On the skin of the face, multiple nodular usanthoma, xanthelasma and nevoxanthoendothelioma (arises from birth and disappears by the age of 1-3 years) can be localized.

Multiple nodular xanthoma

Multiple nodular xanthoma manifests itself as a rash of flat or semicircular, painless, rather dense nodules ranging in size from a pinhead to a pea. Papules are scattered over the skin (there are fewer of them on the face) and tend to be symmetrical.

The most characteristic color of the – yellowish or yellowish-orange with a slightly bluish tint around the periphery. Simultaneously with disseminated nodules, there may be tuberous xanthomas in the tendon region.

The first manifestations of xanthoma usually occur at a young age, there are familial cases. Multiple nodular xanthoma can manifest simultaneously with hepatosplenomegaly, coronary vascular disease, and intestinal disorders. Often the disease develops in patients with diabetes mellitus, myxedema, lipoid nephrosis.

In the serum of patients with multiple xanthoma, elevated levels of neutral fats, cholesterol, and phospholipids are found.

Xanthelasma eyelids

This form of the disease occurs mainly in older women. Near the inner corner of the eyes on the eyelids appear symmetrical flat soft yellowish nodules. Rarely, rashes occur on other areas of the skin of the face.

Xanthelasma may coalesce to form small, flat plaques. Subjective disorders are absent. Sometimes there is an elevated level of cholesterol in the blood serum.

Xanthoma treatment

The xanthoma is hyperlipidemic and usually resolves with appropriate diet and administration of lipotropic drugs.

Small xanthelasmas can be resected with minimal scarring. Some authors recommend destroying xanthelasmas with topical application of a 50% trichloroacetic acid solution.

Centrifugal erythema annulare Darier

The etiology of the disease has not been established. They admit the infectious-allergic and toxic-allergic nature of the disease due to the fairly frequent detection of chronic foci of infection in these patients.

The disease begins acutely, but lasts for many months. After the disappearance of manifestations, relapses are possible. That is why the general course of the disease can last for years.

The clinical picture is characterized by the appearance of yellowish-pink spots, which quickly turn into raised, dense annular elements due to eccentric growth. On palpation, it seems that you find a lace embedded under the skin.

The central part of the foci of inflammation eventually retracts a little and becomes pigmented. The elements quickly increase to 4-5 cm in diameter (a few millimeters per day), which is the reason for the definition of “centrifugal”. In the central part of the old foci, new rashes sometimes appear. Localization on the face is not quite typical. Subjective sensations are most often absent, but there may be slight itching and burning.