QUESTION: What are those little yellowish bumps people get around the eyes? They don't seem to bother anything, but what can be done to prevent them from growing?
ANSWER: Physicians call these yellow-colored lesions xanthelasma.
They are usually raised slightly above the skin surface and can occur on either the upper or lower eyelid usually near the inner corner.
They occur in individuals who suffer from elevated blood cholesterol, particularly in an inherited disorder called "familial hypercholesterolemia," although they can occur in any individual with elevated cholesterols.
In the familial disease, the serum cholesterol may be elevated to two or three times normal and requires aggressive treatment.
Their growth can be halted by lowering serum cholesterol, which means strict avoidance of foods containing cholesterol and saturated fatty acids.
These include meat, especially organ meats and obvious fats, milk, cream, butter, eggs, lard, and other saturated cooking fats. As you correctly stated, they don't bother anything, but remember that other similar plaques are developing on the lining of the patient's arteries, causing a condition called atherosclerosis.
With attention to diet and the lowering of serum cholesterol levels, not only will the plaques on the eye stop growing, but the more important ones located within the arteries may also become smaller.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
