Xanthoma: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P Xanthoma is a skin condition in which certain fats build up under the surface of the skin.

T Causes
P 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 appear anywhere on the body. But, they are most often seen on the elbows, joints, tendons, knees, hands, feet, or buttocks.
P 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)
P Xanthelasma palpebra is a common type of xanthoma that appears on the eyelids. It usually occurs without any underlying medical condition.

T Symptoms
P A xanthoma looks like a yellow to orange bump (papule) with defined borders. There may be several individual ones or they may form clusters.

T Exams and Tests
P Your health care provider will examine the skin. Usually, a diagnosis can be made by looking at the xanthoma. If needed, your provider will remove a sample of the growth for testing.
P You may have blood tests done to check lipid levels, liver function, and for diabetes.

T Treatment
P If you have a disease that causes increased blood lipids, treating the condition may help reduce the development of xanthomas.
P If the growth bothers you, your provider may remove it by surgery or with a laser, but xanthomas may come back after surgery.

T Outlook (Prognosis)
P The growth is noncancerous and painless, but may be a sign of another medical condition.

T When to Contact a Medical Professional
P Call your provider if xanthomas develop. They may indicate an underlying disorder that needs treatment.

T Prevention
P Control of blood lipids, including triglycerides and cholesterol levels, may help reduce development of xanthomas.

T Alternative Names
P Skin growths - fatty; Xanthelasma

T Images
- Xanthoma, eruptive - close-up
- Xanthoma - close-up
- Xanthoma - close-up
- Xanthoma on the knee

T References
P Habif TP. Cutaneous manifestations of internal disease. In: Habif TP, ed. Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 26.
P White LE, Horenstein MG, Shea CR. Xanthomas. In: Lebwohl MG, Heymann WR, Berth-Jones J, Coulson I, eds. Treatment of Skin Disease: Comprehensive Therapeutic Strategies. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 248.

T Review Date 5/2/2017
P Updated by: David L. Swanson, MD, Vice Chair of Medical Dermatology, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Mayo Medical School, Scottsdale, AZ. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

