JAMA Network
The yellow deposits result from a disease called xanthelasma, which occurs when you have high cholesterol levels.
In an unusual case reported in a case study published in the journal Cardiovascular Images, an American man in his 40s developed large yellow cholesterol deposits on hands, feet and elbows due to a carnivorous diet.
The man had consumed a diet rich in animal fats and proteins for eight months, including 2 to 3 pounds of cheese, butter and other high-fat ingredients in your daily burgers, explains .
This extreme eating regimen caused his blood cholesterol levels to skyrocket to more than 1000 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), almost four times higher than normal levels, ranging from 210 to 300 mg/dL.
The resulting disease, known as xanthelasmais characterized by painless, yellowish cholesterol deposits under the skin. Deposits often form on the elbows, knees, tendons and hands, but can also appear near the eyes, where they are called xanthelasma palpebrarum.
Doctors noticed that the man’s skin condition had progressed over three weeks before he sought medical assistance. An image accompanying the report showed large yellow, waxy bumps that emerged from the folds of the palms. Although the condition itself is not harmful, it serves as a warning sign of dangerously high cholesterol levels that can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Xanthelasma affects around 1% of the population and in almost half of cases, it is linked to abnormally high cholesterol caused by genetic factors or other medical conditions, such as diabetes or an underactive thyroid. The deposits are harmless but often indicate the need for lifestyle and dietary changes to prevent future cardiovascular complications.
Typically, doctors advise patients with xanthelasma to adopt a low fat diet and may prescribe cholesterol-lowering medications, such as statins, to manage your condition.
However, although these interventions may prevent new deposits, do not eliminate existing ones. For those who wish to remove cholesterol deposits for aesthetic reasons, surgical procedures or liquid nitrogen freezing techniques are available.
