Those little white or yellow bumps under your eyes (and elsewhere on your face or genitals) are called milia. They pop up when protein from dead skin cells get trapped under your skin. They're harmless and usually go away without treatment, but a doctor can probably remove them if you want.
White spots under the eyes are caused when there is a build up of dead skin cells or keratin. Keratin is a protein that makes up your skin, hair and nails and can also be found in your organs and glands. This can get trapped under the surface of the skin forming a raised 'pinhead' bump.
“People sometimes try to remove milia themselves by popping them as they would pimples,” said Dr. Schiff. “But milia have a very hard texture, and you can't get rid of them without making an incision in the skin.” Trying to pop a milium (one cyst) can lead to scarring.
Milia are not pimples, and attempting to pop them can cause further inflammation and scarring. The pores need to clear out the built up keratin for the milia to go away. Professional treatments can help remove deeper milia or those in sensitive areas, such as around the eyes.
Like acne, milia can be eradicated in a number of different ways, including with chemical peels, topical retinoids, and skin-care products like toners containing exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids (like glycolic acid) or cleansers with salicylic acid — Dr. Farber is a big fan of La Roche-Posay Effaclar acne cleanser.
Milia tends to happen when you have too much sun exposure. Your skin becomes leathery, making it harder for the dead cells to fall off. Sunscreen and moisturizer will keep your skin soft and flexible so it can replace itself the way it should.
The most common type of Milia Removal is carried out using a sterile needle.
Milia are harmless and, in most cases, they will eventually clear by themselves. In babies, they clear after a few weeks. However, in some people, milia can persist for months or longer. Secondary milia are sometimes permanent.
Milia don't need to be treated, and they usually go away within a few weeks to months. But you may want to get rid of the bumps sooner for cosmetic reasons. Like any other skin abnormality, don't pick at a milium (the singular form of milia).
You can try an oatmeal scrub, a steam bath, or applying honey, castor oil or apple cider vinegar to the milia bumps. These home remedies probably work instantly. But with continuous use these milia treatments may reduce or prevent them.
Products that can cause milia can be make-up removers not labeled oil-free or non-comedogenic, hair spray, hair mousse and gel, heavy sunscreens and some moisturizers.
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
It might seem weird to exfoliate around your eyes, but Rouleau says it's crucial to managing milia, especially if yours pop up in that area. "My Overnight Eye Serum is formulated to gently but effectively remove buildup from around the eyes," she says.
"The biggest side effect of using the wrong moisturizer is developing milia, little hard white bumps on the face in random areas," said Dr. Forney. "This is very common if [you're] using a body moisturizer on the face but can also happen with moisturizers which are too heavy."
Daily facial massage, particularly around milia, will improve circulation and encourage it to loosen. Consider adding in a gentle retinol at night time, this will speed up skin cell turnover.
Exfoliation is the most important thing you can do to get rid of milia for good. “[Physical exfoliation] with a facial brush or gentle scrub removes the top dead skin layer and will help milia open and resolve,” says Dr. Gmyrek.
Pimple Popper on YouTube), milia are not pustules that easily flow out of the pore. They are made of hard dead skin cells that have no way of escaping underneath your skin's surface. Instead of popping them, you'll just be left with a red, irritated – and possibly scarred – face.
Milia are small, superficial cysts filled with flakes of skin cells, not pus.
Unlike a pimple, milia don't have an opening on the skin's surface so they can't be squeezed or popped. Scarring and skin damage can occur if you try, especially around the delicate eye area, so it's best to leave this to the professionals. In many cases, milia will clear up upon their own after a few weeks or months.
Clogged Pores
The difference between milia and comedones is that a white comedone will have a 'plug' of sebum, the skin's natural oil, at the top of the spot. Milia will just contain keratin. White comedones are very common, just like milia are, and tend to affect those with naturally oily skin more.
A lack of sleep, smoking, poor personal hygiene or long-term steroid use can also contribute to the milia. Milia will naturally come to the surface of the skin after a few weeks or months.