Orange eyelids?! Please help.

[abigboydidit]

I am 38 & have noticed recently there is an orangey yellow patch at the top inside corner of my eye - above my eyelid. What on earth?! Anyone have something similar and know how I can disguise it? Thanks in advance

[AwkwardSquad]

Is it just discolouration or is it a raised bump? If raised, it could be a lipid deposit called an xanthelasma. Said to be a sign of high cholesterol.

[Greengardenpixie]

xanthelasma - I have them all over my inner eye. You can disguise them with some concealer. I have lots of them and never found a cure. I knew it could be a sign of high cholestrol but the doctor wasnt interested. Inface, im not sure she even knew what they were. I thought they were white heads but i have had them for years and they never go. Im embaressed about them but i now wear glasses.

[Greengardenpixie]

Mine are not big like some images but like this on my inner eye:

www.google.co.uk/search?q=xanthelasma&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=yaBEVfMphq1pr5mBqA4&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1302&bih=615#imgrc=8rsffz63VqSE1M%253A%3ByNRP3m9lRAWtaM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fdoctorv.ca%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2013%252F02%252Fxanthelasma_1_010402.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fdoctorv.ca%252Fcosmetic-services%252Flump-and-bump-removal%252Fxanthelasma-cholesterol-deposits-on-eyelids-detailed-information%252F%3B2134%3B1384

[abigboydidit]

No it is flat. Just looks like I have a blob of yellow or orange eyeshadow (nice!).

[abigboydidit]

Clearly I am a yellow eyed freak

[lurkingaround]

No, not a freak. Are you sallow skinned? Prob just the pigmentation that goes with ageing. Keep wearing the sunglasses!

[abigboydidit]

Hmm. Yes I am sallow skinned. And terrible for not wearing sunglasses Wonder how best to hide it? Am a bit of a make-up-phobe.

[lurkingaround]

One of those concealers with a bit of light reflecting ability in it? Like Touche èclat, (tho personally I hate, the only skin product I've ever reacted to) or the cheapie 2000 concealer (Boots) which I use, or l'oreal do a similar one, called illuminating touch, or something like that.

[abigboydidit]

Thanks. I shall have a look tomorrow.

[Phaedra11]

I have this. I've been told it's a hormone thing and can be caused by pregnancy or the contraceptive pill.

[Inkspellme]

I have this - like a blob of pigment just below my left eyebrow. I've had it for about 4 years and it hasn't changed in that time. I'm very fair skinned, never been on hormonal contraceptive and last pregnant 13 years ago. mines not hormonal but does just seem to be a bit of pigment.

[Alex2204]

Only just joined mumsnet, I've got orangey yellow marks that are not raised and I am very fair skinned, Doctor hasn't a clue what they are and doesn't seem concerned. I can't go without eyeshadow as looks weird, think it's my fault as I rarely use sunglasses and am going to try to start wearing as don't want to get worse

[Alex2204]

I've had this yellowing stain on my eyelid for twenty years and it's never got worse, doctor couldn't work out what it is. It looks gold in some lights, I just cover with skin toned mat eyeshadow , annoying as can't go make up free. I'm fair skinned too and it's not raised at all. And I hardly wear sunglasses .

[LittleL]

Orange palpebral spots (OPS) are a recently recognized condition first reported in 2008. These lesions are asymptomatic, yellow-orange oval macules that lie symmetrically over the inner portion of the upper eyelids. From the cases reported, OPS mostly appear in middle-aged women with fair skin.

Although the cause of OPS remains unknown, there are a few factors that play a role in the presentation of these lesions. When examined under a microscope, there was found scattered fat cells in the upper portion of skin. The skin may also have an increased of the colored pigments carotenoids and lipofuscin. Since the eyelids are one of the thinnest areas of skin on the body, fat cells and pigment are easier to be seen. An additional theory is that the pigment is a result of local trauma: rubbing and excessive blinking. Yet, there is much more research needed to identify the actual cause.

Treatment of OPS is not necessary due to the benign nature of these lesions.