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Xanthoma Bookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version Xanthoma is a skin condition in which certain fats build up under the surface of the skin. Causes Xanthomas are common, especially among older adults and people with high  blood lipids . Xanthomas vary in size. Some are very small. Others are bigger than 3 inches in diameter. They appear anywhere on the body, but are most often seen on the elbows, joints, tendons, knees, hands, feet, or buttocks. Xanthomas may be a sign of a medical condition that involves an increase in blood lipids. Such conditions include: Certain  cancers Diabetes Hyperlipidemia Inherited metabolic disorders such as  familial hypercholesterolemia Primary biliary cirrhosis Pancreatitis Hypothyroidism Xanthelasma palpebra, a common type of xanthoma that appears on the eyelids and may occur without any underlying medical condition, is not necessarily associated with elevated cholesterol or lipids. Sympt...