Behind the Puffy, Yellow Spots What Is Xanthelasma?
No one wants puffy eyes, let alone discoloration. But due to cholesterol deposits building up under the skin, xanthelasma can cause yellow skin plaques around your eyelids, making sufferers feel self-conscious and concerned for their health. Worse yet, the lesions tend to grow and become more prominent with time. The good news is that xanthelasma is benign. Removal is not necessarily medically required, but many find it unsightly and choose a corrective procedure. Xanthelasma tends to grow, and the larger it gets, the harder it is to treat. So, scheduling a visit when you first start noticing yellow patches will make your treatment and recovery easier. There are many ways to remove xanthelasma, but Dr. Scott’s preferred method is to directly excise the lesions in a staged fashion. After any removal, the skin tends to heal with a slightly lighter color than of the surrounding eyelid skin. As such, Dr. Scott likes to remove a small portion and wait
for it to fully heal before deciding on further treatment. If the patient is happy with the results, he will continue removing small sections until the xanthelasma is completely removed. While multiple treatments may be inconvenient, they are necessary to ensure proper healing with minimal scarring. Xanthelasma rarely recurs in the same spot, though it may develop in other locations around the eye. But having the yellow areas removed should not be the end of a xanthelasma patient’s journey. Contrary to what you might expect, high cholesterol doesn’t necessarily cause xanthelasma. Though about half of xanthelasma patients have elevated levels, that’s roughly the same rate of adult individuals having elevated cholesterol (38%). However, researchers have linked xanthelasma to heart disease. It’s 1 of 4 risk markers, alongside receding hairline at the temples, baldness on the
crown of the head, or an earlobe crease. Having three of these four symptoms makes a person 57% more likely to have a heart attack, and the fatty deposits around the eyes (xanthelasma) are the most powerful individual predictor of subsequent cardiac disease. So, your treatment should not end in Dr. Scott’s office. If you’ve developed xanthelasma, schedule an appointment with your internist/cardiologist. They can determine your risk factors and decide if you need additional tests or medication(s). It’s normal to care about what you look like on the outside, but your internal health should be your top priority.
One-Pan Baked Salmon and Veggies Inspired by BBCGoodFood.com
A referral is the highest compliment our patients can give! Welcome to our new patients, and
thank you for the six referrals this month! Do you know someone who might need Dr. Scott’s care? Pass this newsletter along to them!
It’s asparagus season! Celebrate with this easy one-pan salmon dish for two.
INGREDIENTS •
1 lb spring potatoes, halved 2 tbsp olive oil (divided) 8 asparagus spears, trimmed and halved
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2 handfuls cherry tomatoes 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
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2 5-oz salmon fillets 1 handful fresh basil
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 400 F. 2. In an oven-proof dish, combine the potatoes and 1 tbsp olive oil. Roast for 20 minutes. 3. Remove the dish from the oven and add the asparagus. Toss, and bake for 15 more minutes. 4. Remove the dish from the oven and add the cherry tomatoes. Toss. Drizzle with balsamic, then nestle the salmon fillets into the vegetables. Drizzle with the remaining oil, and bake for 10–15 minutes. 5. Remove the dish from the oven, garnish with basil leaves, and serve!
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