Genetically High Cholesterol Leaves Woman With Worst Eye Bags; What Is Xanthelasmas?

A beauty influencer has been suffering from a rare skin condition called xanthelasmas. According to a report, the little pockets forming under her eyes like eye bags are due to genetics.

Woman With the Worst Eye Bags

Abby Rivera, a widowed mother of one, has gained hundreds of thousands of followers and stands out among other beauty influencers by sharing frank evaluations and genuine talks about coping with life and using beauty procedures while living with a rare skin condition.

The first time Rivera, 42, saw the blotches under her eyes was in 2010. She wasn't aware of what they were until a dermatologist buddy informed her, she told Newsweek.

Rivera, who resides with her son in the northern suburbs of New York City, has familial hypercholesterolemia. A genetically elevated cholesterol level can accumulate in tiny pockets under the eyes. The accumulations are known as xanthelasmas.

It did not worry her as much while they were little, but when they started to get bigger, it did bother Rivera. She visited an oculoplastic surgeon in 2022, a medical professional specializing in plastic and reconstructive surgery near the eyes.

She was told she had the worst case of xanthelasma the surgeon had ever seen. Her xanthelasmas were wide and shaped, making it difficult for the doctor to perform the surgery as usual.

The xanthelasmas may return even after being removed. Rivera is personally aware of this. The last time she had them removed was in April 2018, but since then, they have returned and grown larger, according to her. They are at their maximum size right at the moment.

Rivera said she is still undecided about getting the procedure again. She has a consultation planned on April 27 and is awaiting the results of a second opinion.

She's concerned about how much the operation will cost and the possibility of them returning after spending all her money.

@abbythebadassmom Surgery update - good and bad news #xanthelasmaremoval #xanthelasma #undereyebags #undereyebagsolution #lowerblepharoplasty #facialdifferencesarebeautiful ♬ original sound - Abby R

@abbythebadassmom Replying to @the_overcash_chronicles more details on my potential eye surgery #undereyebags #xanthelasma #xanthelasmaremoval #undereyebagsolution #surgerywithabby #facialdifferenceawareness ♬ original sound - Abby R

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What Is Xanthelasma?

A yellow growth that can occur on or at the corners of your eyelids, adjacent to your nose, is called xanthelasma or xanthelasma palpebrarum (XP). An accumulation of cholesterol deposits under your skin is called a xanthelasma, per Cleveland Clinic.

Xanthelasmas could be a symptom of another illness, such as diabetes, thyroid issues, or hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol). Researchers have discovered that having xanthelasmas increases your risk of developing heart disease and a heart attack in the future, high cholesterol, and atherosclerosis, even if your cholesterol levels are normal.

Dr. Jessica Lattman, an oculoplastic surgeon in New York City, told Newsweek that there is a lot of misinformation about xanthelasmas and how to treat them. One of the misconceptions regarding the condition is that xanthelasmas can be treated with a laser or some other type of topical medication.

According to her, this is wholly untrue. It may not be what you want to hear, but if you choose the 'easy way' and only use the laser, you risk developing scarring and developing new issues.

Surface therapies are ineffective, according to Lattman, since the xanthelasma penetrates all layers of the skin. She stressed that the only method to get rid of them was through surgical excision, which required a specialist in eyelid surgery.

The eye's lower lid is tough since it must be judged on how much skin can be added without pulling it down or distorting it.

Even though Lattman sees patients with xanthelasmas on a weekly basis, the disorder is still relatively uncommon, affecting just 0.3% of men and 1.1% of women in the U.S. The expert added that while one can reduce the risks of recurrence by lowering cholesterol, there's always a possibility that the condition will return.