Xanthelasma removal

What causes xanthelasma?

Xanthelasma are deposits of cholesterol or other lipids in the skin. They can occur with normal or raised cholesterol levels. Your clinician may suggest a cholesterol test through your GP. Treating raised cholesterol is important for general health but does not usually remove existing patches.

Why assessment matters before treatment

The eyelid area has thin, delicate skin, so treatment needs to be selected carefully. Not every yellow or pale lesion around the eye is xanthelasma, and not every xanthelasma is suitable for treatment in the same way.

During a skin treatment assessment with a nurse, your clinician will assess whether the lesion is consistent with xanthelasma, whether treatment is suitable for the eyelid area. If doctor review is required, we’ll arrange this before treatment.

How xanthelasma may be treated

Where treatment is suitable, xanthelasma may be treated in clinic using precision radiofrequency treatment after assessment.

The aim is visible improvement, not a guarantee that the skin will look completely normal. Larger, thicker or more extensive xanthelasma may need staged treatment, or may be better managed through another specialist pathway.

Healing and possible risks

After treatment, the area may be red, swollen, crusted or tender while it heals. Swelling can be more noticeable around the eyelids than on other parts of the face.

Possible risks include redness, swelling, crusting, pigment change, scarring, incomplete removal and recurrence. Your clinician will discuss realistic expectations before treatment is planned.

Can xanthelasma come back?

Xanthelasma can recur after treatment.

Related skin conditions

Spot Check Clinic also assesses and treats a range of other small skin lesions where suitable, including milia, syringomas, sebaceous hyperplasia, skin tags, cherry angiomas and seborrhoeic keratoses.