Abstract
A 68-year old male had applied a steroid ointment externally on the face since his infancy as a treatment for atopic dermatitis. Since 1996, diffuse yellow plaques had been present on the lower eyelids and cheeks. Blood tests showed no abnormal findings in lipid metabolism, and epidermal atrophy as well as foam cell accumulation from the upper dermis to the middle dermis was observed a histopathological appearance. From these findings, the patient was diagnosed with normolipidemic plane xanthoma. The steroid ointment was stopped and white petrolatum was externally applied with instructions for light protection. However, the xanthoma did not improved. In 1999, we used tacrolimus ointment, and the xanthoma completely disappeared within about one year. Apparently the tacrolimus ointment which has an anti-inflammatory effect equivalent to that of steroid ointments, but does not cause skin disorders such as skin atrophy, or teleangiectasia, was effective.
