Learn About Xanthoma
Xanthoma is a skin condition in which certain fats build up under the surface of the skin.
Skin growths - fatty; Xanthelasma
Xanthomas are common, especially among older adults and people with high blood lipids (fats). Xanthomas vary in size. Some are very small. Others are bigger than 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) in diameter. They may appear anywhere on the body. But, they are most often seen on the elbows, joints, tendons, knees, hands, feet, or buttocks.
Xanthomas may be a sign of a medical condition that involves an increase in blood lipids. Such conditions include:
- Certain cancers
- Diabetes
- High blood cholesterol levels
- Inherited metabolic disorders, such as familial hypercholesterolemia
- Scarring of the liver due to blocked bile ducts (primary biliary cirrhosis)
- Inflammation and swelling of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
Xanthelasma palpebra is a common type of xanthoma that appears on the eyelids. It usually occurs without any underlying medical condition.
A xanthoma looks like a yellow to orange bump (papule) with defined borders. There may be several individual ones or they may form clusters.
If you have a disease that causes increased blood lipids, treating the condition may help reduce the development of xanthomas.
If the growth bothers you, your provider may remove it by surgery or with a laser. However, xanthomas may come back after surgery.
University Of The Witwatersrand
Frederick Raal is in Johannesburg, South Africa. Raal is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Xanthoma. He is also highly rated in 7 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Defective Apolipoprotein B-100, High Cholesterol, Xanthoma, and Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia HoFH.
University Of Western Australia
Gerald Watts is in Perth, Australia. Watts is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Xanthoma. He is also highly rated in 20 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Familial Hypercholesterolemia, High Cholesterol, Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia HeFH, and Xanthoma.
Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein
Raul Santos is in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Santos is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Xanthoma. He is also highly rated in 26 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Familial Hypercholesterolemia, High Cholesterol, Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia HeFH, and Atherosclerosis.
The growth is noncancerous and painless, but it may be a sign of another medical condition.
Call your provider if xanthomas develop. They may indicate an underlying disorder that needs treatment.
To reduce the development of xanthomas, you may need to control your blood triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
Published Date: April 14, 2021
Published By: Elika Hoss, MD, Senior Associate Consultant, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Dinulos JGH. Cutaneous manifestations of internal disease. In: Dinulos JGH, ed. Habif's Clinical Dermatology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 26.
Massengale WT. Xanthomas. In: Bolognia JL, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L, eds. Dermatology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 92.
White LE, Horenstein MG, Shea CR. Xanthomas. In: Lebwohl MG, Heymann WR, Berth-Jones J, Coulson IH, eds. Treatment of Skin Disease: Comprehensive Therapeutic Strategies. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 256.