Xanthelasma A Case Series

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XanthelasmaA Case Series

• Victoria Smith BSc (Hons) ITEC VTCT
• Director of Aesthetics

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www.absoluteaesthetics.co.uk

• Portrait of Mona Lisa
• painted in 1506

Suggests Xanthelasma prevalent in 16th Century
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What is Xanthelasma?

• Lipoprotein
• Yellow plaques
• flat or slightly raised
• Eyelids
• lower and upper
• Harmless
• cosmetically unattractive, irritating
• Can grow
• 3mm 6cm diameter
• Sharp distinct border

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Causes

• Cause unknown
• High cholesterol
• High level of plasma lipids
• High BP
• Heart disease
• Genetic factors

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Who gets Xanthelasma?

• Rare
• Hampton R. Oct 2011, Medscape
• More prevalent in women
• FM ratio 21 (Christoffersen et al. BMJ
  2011\0
• Age of onset 15 - 73yrs
• Peak age 40 50 yrs

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Existing Treatments for Xanthelasma

• Surgery - skin grafts, flaps
• Cryotherapy- Liquid Nitrogen
• Laser e.g. NdYAG
• Trichloroacetic acid
• Camouflage Make Up

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History of Electrolysis

• Invented by Dr Charles E Michel 1875
• Developed for Trichiasis
• Uses galvanic/short wave diathermy current
• Insertion of needle - emitting current
• FDA approved for permanent hair removal

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Advanced Electrolysis

• Lumps, Bumps and Skin lesions
• Skin tags
• Milia
• Telangiectasia
• Seborrhoeic Keratosis
• Dermatosis Papulosa Nigra
• Age spots

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The Procedure

• Clean environment
• Short wave diathermy
• 17-19 MHz
• Sterex (UK)
• One piece stainless steel needle
• 2 techniques used

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Technique 1

• Scratching
• removal of epithelial layer
• scratching with needle to lift plaques

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Technique 2

• Dotting
• used if plaques dont raise
• repeated tappingof plaque
• heat accumulates
• plaque darkens and crusts

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After Procedure

• No discomfort
• Area resembles a graze
• Sometimes bleeds - before scab forms
• Scab comes away 5 - 7 days

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Results

• 10 patients (MF 46 Age 39-53years)
• 1 failed to complete
• 2 part way through treatment
• 7 completed treatment
• all xanthelasma removed
• 100 patient satisfaction
• 4wks - 1year post treatment
• variable healing, blemish remaining
• all
• would have the treatment repeated
• would recommend

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Results at 1 year

• 2 patients at 1 year
• No re-growth in treated area
• Slight pink scarring
• easy to cover
• Little re-growth in new areas
• Increased self esteem

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Before and After Images
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Before and After Images
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Before and After Images
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Before and After Images
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Before and After Images
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Conclusion

• Successful removal of xanthelasma
• Scrapping technique
• more exposed wound - longer to heal
• Dotting technique
• less of an open wound - quicker to heal
• Significant increase in patient self esteem
• Low cost
• Low downtime