This is a yellowish cholesterol deposit  which appear under the skin, usually at the level of the eyelids. It has smooth surface and well defined edges. It can be unilateral or bilateral.

Sometimes, it may occur in several members of the same family. About half of the patients with xanthelasma show high levels of blood fat.

It usually occurs after the age of 50. It has a benign development (it does not turn into malignant tumours). Xanthelasma evolves slowly and can be aesthetically inconvenient.

It is generally the expression of fat metabolic imbalance (basically, these deposits are composed of cholesterol). Xanthelasma is not painful. Once emerged, it does not disappear by itself, on the contrary, it can grow in size and can change colour, becoming yellowish.

It can be removed by surgical excision which is the only effective method.

Surgery (excision-suture) is done under local anaesthesia. The result is especially good when the patient sees a doctor when the formation is small (a few millimetres). After surgery 1-2 consultations are required for check-up and removal of sutures. Sometimes xanthelasma may relapse after surgical excision (it can rebuild). There is no preventive treatment.