Yellow eyelid marks are 'early warning sign of heart disease'
Yellow marking in the skin around the eyes can be a sign of heart disease, according to scientists. A study of almost 13,000 people found people with the patches, known as xanthelasmata, were more likely have a heart attack or die within 10 years. The spots are deposits of cholesterol which are soft and painless. They don't interfere with vision and people often get them treated at a dermatologist. However, people with xanthelasma should go to their doctor as well, according to the research published online in the British Medical Journal. The heart disease link was most acute in men aged between 70 and 79. Those with xanthelasmata were 12 per cent more at risk than others without the condition. The corresponding risk for women in this group was eight per cent. However, the raised yellow patches around the eyelids was a more reliable sign of heart disease in women because of their lower overall risk The yellow markings (seen just above and below the corner of the eye) are de...