A Case of Trauma-Induced Single Xanthelasma Palpebrarum

Abstract

A 33-year old Korean man visited our department complaining of single mildly pruritic yellowish flat-topped papule on left upper eyelid. Lipid profile including low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglyceride level was above normal range. He remembered that the site was scalded by boiling oil about eight months ago. The patient was diagnosed with xanthelasma palpebrarum (XP) based on the clinical and histopathological findings, including diffuse infiltrate of large, pale-staining cells which have abundant foamy cytoplasm in the dermis. He was treated with CO2 laser ablation followed by application of 70% trichloroacetic acid with wooden stick. After a month, the skin lesion showed moderate improvement with disappearance of yellowish color and flattopped elevation. So far, case of XP developed after minor trauma has not been reported. This case illustrates that minor trauma could be a trigger factor in the development of the disorder.