3 weeks Ago By Ashima Sharda Mahindra
Your face is the window to your health, according to doctors. Any signs of illness can be spotted on your face, especially if it is related to your heart. According to experts, you must look out for two facial symptoms that could indicate high cholesterol.
Also known as hypercholesterolaemia, high cholesterol is a condition where there is an excess of fats or lipids in your blood - potentially leading to heart disease and stroke. Doctors say it is often asymptomatic, meaning many people don't know they have it until complications arise. However, there are a few signs you can spot on your face that can indicate you need to take swift action.
Related News | Heatwaves Can Cause Eye Stroke and permanent Blindness; Here's How To Take Care of Eyes In Sweltering SummerAre Your Arteries Clogged? Here's Why You Should Take Peripheral Artery Disease SeriouslyHigh cholesterol signs on your face Those who have higher cholesterol or high triglyceride levels may show facial symptoms like painless, soft-to-firm yellowish patches or bumps on the eyelids known as xanthelasmas. According to experts, these are associated with other inflammatory dermatological conditions as well, including lichen planus and psoriasis. Additionally, high cholesterol levels are present as a grey ring in the eyes, known as corneal arcus.
According to doctors, it is mostly true for those with a family history of high cholesterol. However, the only way to know be sure if you have high cholesterol levels is via a blood and lipid panel test. Xanthelasmas Related News | Are Egg Yolks Good or Bad For You? Here's How They Affect Cholesterol LevelsXanthelasmas happen in the corner of your eyes—appearing as firm, waxy skin lesions that are a sure-shot sign of buildup of cholesterol, causing cholesterol deposits under your skin’s surface.
They appear as small bumps, nodules, or even benign tumours that enlarge over time. Although not everyone with high cholesterol has xanthelasmas, high cholesterol levels can cause them. Corneal arcus For those with a corneal arcus, it means they have very high cholesterol.
Doctors say the corneal arcus is a greyish-white ring around the eye’s cornea - a transparent section that covers the iris and the pupil. It mostly develops if you have a family history of high cholesterol levels. Lichen planus This is an extremely common condition that leads to itchy rashes on your skin.
According to doctors, it causes shiny purple or red bumps that may appear anywhere on your body - including the face—and itch severely. Sometimes, these are also found inside your mouth, appearing as white, lacy patches of small dots on the tongue or inside the cheeks—causing a burning sensation. Eruptive xanthoma It is a rare skin condition that causes small lesions on your facial skin mostly.
While eruptive xanthoma is a sign of very high triglycerides, if not treated well in time, it can also put you at risk of acute pancreatitis. Eruptive xanthomas are seen as multiple pink, reddish, or yellow bumps anywhere on the skin, but usually on the face and forehead, apart from your elbows, hands, and knees. How to lower cholesterol levels? According to doctors, a few lifestyle measures you can take to mitigate against high cholesterol include: Consume less saturated fat Opt for a healthy, balanced diet with fresh and seasonal ingredients Maintain regular physical activity Quit smoking and alcohol Keep your weight in check.
