According to the CDC, nearly 40% of American adults have high cholesterol. But not all of them realize it.
When most people who have high cholesterol look in the mirror, they won't be able to tell. The average person isn't going to exhibit any easy-to-spot high cholesterol symptoms.
There are, however, some people who will show signs of high cholesterol on the face. They'll have bumps, patches, and other blemishes that'll appear when their cholesterol levels are too high.
If you suspect you might have high cholesterol or if you've been diagnosed with it, you should keep an eye out for signs of high cholesterol on the face. You should also learn about how to treat them if you ever spot them. You might be able to get them to go away by trying to lead a more healthy lifestyle from now on.
Here are a handful of the most common signs of high cholesterol on the face.
When is the last time you took a good, long look at your eyes? If it's been a while now since you've done it, it would be worth staring into your eyes in the mirror while paying close attention to the appearance of your cornea.
The cornea is the part of your eye that covers both your iris and pupil. If you have high cholesterol, you might see a ring that is a grayish-white color forming around the outside of your cornea. It's called a corneal arcus.
More often than not, those with a corneal arcus caused by high cholesterol will have a family history filled with other people who also had high cholesterol. You'll want to have bloodwork done to determine if a corneal arcus is the result of you having high cholesterol or something else.
Of all the signs of high cholesterol on the face, eruptive xanthoma is probably the most rare of the bunch. Very few people will get this skin condition when they have high cholesterol.
But if you do get it, it's going to be hard to miss. It'll result in small lesions popping up on your cheeks, your forehead, and possibly even your eyelids. You might also find these lesions on other parts of your body as well, including your hands, elbows, and knees.
Eruptive xanthoma lesions can be very itchy. They can also indicate that your triglycerides have reached such high levels that you might be at risk for developing acute pancreatitis.
This is yet another instance in which you'll want to arrange to have bloodwork done so that you can see if you have high cholesterol. It'll put you in a position to get the proper treatment so that you can make the lesions all over your skin go away.
Have you noticed itchy red or purple bumps popping up all over the place on your skin, including on your face, arms, ankles, and even back? Or worse, have you seen patches of tiny, white dots inside your mouth on your cheeks and tongue?
These could all be symptoms of lichen planus, which is another one of the signs of high cholesterol on the face. They often look unsightly, and they might suggest your body's lipid levels are higher than they should be
Those with lichen planus won't always exhibit all or even any of the symptoms we just mentioned. Some people who get lichen planus also won't have high cholesterol levels since it can be caused by other things.
But at the first sign of lichen planus, you may want to discuss what to do next with your doctor. They can test you for high cholesterol and put together a treatment plan for getting rid of the bumps on your skin and/or in your mouth.
Unlike some of the other signs of high cholesterol on the face, psoriasis isn't always an indication that you have cholesterol problems. In fact, researchers aren't 100% sure what causes psoriasis to impact people.
But some studies have shown that high cholesterol may trigger a gene in your body that can lead to the overproduction of keratinocytes on your skin. This could theoretically then result in psoriasis making an appearance on various parts of your skin, including your face.
If you ever have psoriasis, it'll be almost impossible to miss. You'll start to see very thick and scaly patches appearing on your skin. They can show up on your face as well as on your scalp, back, knees, and elbows.
Psoriasis can be treated successfully. But until you're able to kick it to the curb, you might find that you'll feel uncomfortable in your own skin. You might also discover that others might shy away from getting too close to your skin since some believe psoriasis is contagious even though it isn't.
If you ever see any firm lesions on your face or other parts of your skin that look waxy, they are more than likely xanthelasmas. They're cholesterol deposits that sit just below the surface of the skin.
When xanthelasmas pop up on a person's face, they'll most likely appear on their eyelids or even in the corners of their eyes. They're usually not harmful, but because they don't always look nice, you might want to have them removed.
If you haven't ever been tested for high cholesterol, you'll also want to schedule a doctor's appointment to have a blood test done. While those without high cholesterol can get xanthelasmas, they're a lot more common among those with it.
The five signs of high cholesterol on the face that we just discussed are the ones you might see most often. But there are a few more signs of high cholesterol on the face that you might come across over time.
Some of the inflammatory skin conditions that have been linked to high cholesterol in the past are:
It's also worth noting that there are certain dermatological conditions that will require you to take medications that may cause your cholesterol to spike. If you have any of these conditions, you'll need to work with your doctor to find the right treatment methods to avoid cholesterol issues.
If you suspect you might be seeing signs of high cholesterol on your face when you look in the mirror each day, you will want to make a doctor's appointment right away. If you do, in fact, have high cholesterol, it could put you at an increased risk for a heart attack or stroke.
Your doctor will be able to perform tests to see if your cholesterol is high. They can also start to talk to you about different treatment options you'll have to bring your cholesterol levels back down to earth.
First and foremost, your doctor might prescribe medications designed to lower your cholesterol levels. Statins are often the most-prescribed cholesterol medications. But you might also be asked to take:
You're also going to have to play a key part in helping to lower your high cholesterol. It'll involve you starting to live a healthy lifestyle.
The first thing you'll need to do is adopt a much healthier diet that is free from saturated fats to improve your cardiovascular health. As you're doing that, you'll also need to begin to get more exercise so that you can hopefully manage your weight more effectively. All of these steps will make a huge difference when you're trying to reduce your cholesterol levels.
But why stop there? You can also steer clear of drinking alcohol and smoking. You can aim to eliminate as much stress from your life as well.
You aren't necessarily going to have the ability to reduce your cholesterol levels in a matter of just days or even weeks. But if you're willing to keep working at it, you should start to see positive results soon.
It doesn't matter if you just started seeing signs of high cholesterol on the face or have been seeing them for a while without knowing what they were. You should visit a doctor ASAP to get tested for high cholesterol.
You should also take strides toward lowering your cholesterol levels. You can do this by taking all the advice we just gave you. You may also be able to do it by incorporating Cardio Cleanse into your life.
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