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Eruptive xanthomatosis

Show Alternative Names
Eruptive xanthoma
Eruptive xanthomata
Xanthoma - eruptive
Diabetes - xanthoma

Eruptive xanthomatosis is a skin condition that causes small yellow-red bumps to appear on the body. It can occur in people who have a very high blood triglyceride level. These people also frequently have diabetes.

Causes

Eruptive xanthomatosis is a rare skin condition caused by an excessively high triglyceride level in the blood. It can occur in people with poorly-controlled diabetes or in people who take some medicines, such as isotretinoin, estrogens, and cyclosporine, which can increase the triglyceride levels.

Cholesterol and triglycerides are types of fats that naturally occur in your blood. High levels increase the risk for heart disease and other health problems.

When diabetes is not well-controlled, the insufficient insulin level makes it harder for the body to break down fats in the blood. This increases the level of fats in the blood. The extra fat can collect under the skin to form small bumps which are xanthomas.

Symptoms

The skin bumps may vary in color from yellow, orange-yellow, red-yellow, to red. A small red halo may form around the bump. The bumps are:

  • Pea-sized
  • Waxy
  • Firm

While harmless by themselves, the bumps may be itchy and tender. They tend to appear on the:

  • Buttocks
  • Shoulders
  • Arms
  • Thighs
  • Legs

Exams and Tests

Your health care provider will take your medical history and examine your skin. You may have the following blood tests:

A skin biopsy may be done to help diagnose the condition.

Treatment

Treatment for eruptive xanthomatosis involves lowering:

  • Blood triglyceride
  • Blood sugar
  • Stopping or decreasing the dose of culprit medicines

Your provider will ask you to make changes in your lifestyle and diet. This can help lower high blood fats.

If you have diabetes, your provider will ask you to manage your blood sugar through diet, exercise, and medicines.

If lifestyle changes do not work, your provider may ask you to take medicines to help lower blood fat levels, such as:

The skin bumps go away by themselves after few weeks. They clear once the blood sugar and fat levels are under control.

Possible Complications

If not treated, high triglyceride levels can lead to pancreatitis.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your health care provider if you:

  • Have poor control of diabetes
  • Notice yellowish-red bumps on your skin

Prevention

Control of blood fats and blood sugar can help prevent this condition. Follow your provider's treatment recommendations.

Review Date: 11/30/2022

Reviewed By

Ramin Fathi, MD, FAAD, Director, Phoenix Surgical Dermatology Group, Phoenix, AZ. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

References

Ahn CS, Yosipovitch G, Huang WW. Diabetes and the skin. In: Callen JP, Jorizzo JL, Zone JJ, Piette WW, Rosenbach MA, Vleugels RA, eds. Dermatological Signs of Systemic Disease. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 24.

Braunstein I. Cutaneous manifestations of lipid disorders. In: Callen JP, Jorizzo JL, Zone JJ, Piette WW, Rosenbach MA, Vleugels RA, eds. Dermatological Signs of Systemic Disease. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 26.

Fitzpatrick JE, High WA, Kyle WL. Yellow lesions. In: Fitzpatrick JE, High WA, Kyle WL, eds. Urgent Care Dermatology: Symptom-Based Diagnosis. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 33.

Patterson JW. Cutaneous infiltrates - nonlymphoid. In: Patterson JW, ed. Weedon's Skin Pathology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 41.

White LE, Horenstein MG, Shea CR. Xanthomas. In: Lebwohl MG, Heymann WR, Coulson IH, Murrell DF, eds. Treatment of Skin Disease. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 256.

Disclaimer

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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Xanthoma, eruptive - close-up - Illustration Thumbnail

Xanthoma, eruptive - close-up

Xanthomas are firm, raised waxy-appearing papules or bumps, which may occur on the trunk, arms, and legs, and may be skin-colored, pink, or even yellow. The presence of this type of skin lesion may be associated with abnormal levels of lipids, or fats, in the blood.

Illustration

 
 
Xanthoma, eruptive - close-up - Illustration Thumbnail

Xanthoma, eruptive - close-up

Xanthomas are firm, raised waxy-appearing papules or bumps, which may occur on the trunk, arms, and legs, and may be skin-colored, pink, or even yellow. The presence of this type of skin lesion may be associated with abnormal levels of lipids, or fats, in the blood.

Illustration

 
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