Menu
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Healthy Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Diets & Nutrition - Food Safety
    Nutrition
    healthy nutrition
    Recipes
    healthy recipes
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    herbal remedies - herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    suppliments & remedies
    Vitamins
    ask-dr-weil_vitamins-supplements-herbs_vitamins-topnav
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    The Legacy Of Living Yes | Spontaneous Happiness | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Health Tips
    Healthy Drinks To Start Sipping | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Spontaneous Happiness
    blog_spontaneous-happiness_topnav
  • COVID-19
  • Dr. Weil Origins Skin Care
  • Marketplace
  • Healthy Aging
  • Podcasts
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Accessibility
  • Subscribe
Xanthelasma: Yellow Growths on the Skin?
Subscribe
Press "Enter" to search
  1. Home
  2. Health & Wellness
  3. Body, Mind & Spirit
  4. Hair, Skin, & Nails

Xanthelasma: Yellow Growths on the Skin?

Is there any natural treatment for xanthelasma? I have consulted many doctors, and they all have told me that surgery is an option, but it would leave scars, and the xanthelasma might come back again. My own doctor said that if I bring my cholesterol down it might go away.

Andrew Weil, M.D. |June 8, 2010

Early morning.
1 min

Xanthelasma are raised, yellow growths that appear on the eyelids and can occur with age as well as with high cholesterol levels. Similar growths called xanthomas are also yellowish in color, flat with distinct edges and soft to the touch. Most are small, but some are pretty big,  more than three inches in diameter. They’re usually seen on elbows, knees, hands, feet, or buttocks. Xanthomas are more common than xanthelasma, especially among older individuals with high cholesterol and high triglycerides. All of these growths (both xanthelasma and xanthomas) are harmless and painless, although they can be distressing cosmetically.

I don’t know of any natural treatment for xanthelasma. Your physician is correct – if you can bring your cholesterol (and triglyceride) levels down to normal range, you may be able to prevent the formation of new ones. You can have the current growths removed by surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, laser surgery, and the application of acids. If you do choose surgical removal by any method, permanent scarring is a possibility and, as the physicians you’ve consulted have explained, there’s no guarantee that the growths won’t recur.

Disturbing as xanthelasma may be, you should be more concerned about the elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels. They may indicate and possible increased risk of heart disease.  Check your cholesterol levels and learn how to normalize them.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil's FREE health living advice delivered to you!

By clicking "Subscribe," you agree to the DrWeil.com Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive emails from DrWeil.com, and you may opt out of DrWeil.com subscriptions at any time.

Trending Now

8 Natural Skin Care Tips | Personal Care | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Hair, Skin, & Nails

8 Natural Skin Care Tips

Woman applying sunblock protection on shoulders
Hair, Skin, & Nails

A Chronic Skin Condition?

A Connection Between Grapes And Preventing Sunburn? Healthy Skin | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Hair, Skin, & Nails

A Connection Between Grapes And Preventing Sunburn?

woman holding and applying suntan lotion on a beach
Hair, Skin, & Nails

A Painful Reminder of Shingles?

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Information
  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Email Subscription
Trending Articles
8 Natural Skin Care Tips | Personal Care | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Hair, Skin, & Nails

8 Natural Skin Care Tips

Woman applying sunblock protection on shoulders
Hair, Skin, & Nails

A Chronic Skin Condition?

Daily Tips
Minimize Sore Throat Pain
Health Tips

4 Ways To Minimize Sore Throat Pain

Getting Enough Vitamin C
Health Tips

3 Reasons Why The Body Needs Vitamin C

  • Flickr
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

©Copyright2023 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com