Yellow Patches on Your Eyelids (Xanthelasma): What They Say About Heart Risk
SkinArticleFlat yellow patches on the eyelids are called xanthelasma. They're more common in women and are often treated as a cosmetic nuisance, but a 33-year study found they predicted heart attacks independently of cholesterol levels. Here is what to check and how the patches can be removed.
In this article
Xanthelasma are flat, yellowish patches on the eyelids. They’re a type of fatty deposit in the skin called a xanthoma, and they’re more common in women than men.1 They’re worth more than a cosmetic glance.
What a long study found
The Copenhagen City Heart Study followed nearly 13,000 adults for up to 33 years. About 4% had xanthelasma at the start.2 Compared with people without them, people with xanthelasma had:2
- About 48% higher risk of heart attack
- About 39% higher risk of coronary heart disease
- About 14% higher risk of death
- No higher risk of stroke
These links held even after accounting for cholesterol and triglyceride levels and other standard risk factors.2 Risk rose in every age group, in women and men.2 For example, women aged 70 to 79 had a 35% ten-year risk of heart disease with xanthelasma vs. 27% without.2
A gray-white ring around the colored part of the eye (arcus) wasn’t an important independent predictor.2
What to check
- A cholesterol panel and overall heart-risk assessment. Managing blood lipids is the main medical goal; statins can control cholesterol and may shrink the deposits.1
- Your other risk factors, such as blood pressure, blood sugar and smoking, since xanthelasma added risk beyond cholesterol.2
Removal options
Dermatologists and eyelid surgeons may offer:1
- Chemical treatment with trichloroacetic acid applied in the office
- Surgical removal
- Laser treatments (several types)
- Radiofrequency treatment
Patches can come back; one laser type showed recurrence-free periods up to 12 months.1 Ask about scarring and eyelid position, since the skin there is thin.
Our guides to cherry angiomas, skin tags and milia cover other common spots.
Try: “I’ve noticed yellow patches on both eyelids. Can we check my cholesterol and heart risk, and who should I see if I want them removed?”
Skin, Head to Toe includes a short-shelf planner and a 12-week SkinLog. Use them to photograph the patches and note any treatment you try. See the book.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It isn't a substitute for diagnosis or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional who knows your health history. Please don't try to remove eyelid growths at home with acids, creams or devices, which can scar or injure the eye. A growth that bleeds, ulcerates or changes quickly should be examined. Chest pain, shortness of breath, or sudden weakness or trouble speaking need emergency care. If you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. This article discusses a skin condition and published research. Girl Playbook does not endorse any specific product, test, or provider.
Girl Playbook sells this book. It provides education and worksheets, not individualized medical care.
Sources
The research behind this article, in the order it’s cited. How we source our articles.
- StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (National Library of Medicine)Xanthoma (opens in a new tab)abcd
- BMJ (full text via PubMed Central), 2011Xanthelasmata, arcus corneae, and ischaemic vascular disease and death in general population: prospective cohort study (opens in a new tab)abcdefg
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