Milia around the eyes: causes and care

The eyelid and under-eye skin is thin, so small trapped keratin collections can be easy to see. Some milia arise without an obvious trigger. Others follow irritation, a scrape, a burn, inflammation or a procedure that changes the surface. Thick eye creams, occlusive makeup or rubbing may make bumps more noticeable, although a product is not always the cause.

Milia are commonly smooth, firm and pale. A red, itchy or painful lesion may instead be dermatitis, infection or another type of Skin Bumps. A clinician can examine it without guessing from appearance alone.

Remove eye makeup gently, avoid rubbing and use products labelled for the eye area. Do not pierce or squeeze a bump near the eyelid; an accidental injury can affect the surrounding skin or eye. Keep sunscreen and sunglasses part of your routine, particularly after any procedure.

If a lesion persists, a dermatologist may discuss careful extraction. Topical Retinoids can irritate the eye area and should only be used there when specifically directed. Curettage And Cautery may be considered for selected lesions, with the treatment plan adapted to their distance from the eyelid margin.

Arrange review for a bump that grows, bleeds, changes colour or does not resemble a typical milium. Get prompt eye care for pain inside the eye, blurred vision, marked swelling, light sensitivity, discharge or a gritty red eye. Rapid swelling after a product requires urgent help if breathing becomes difficult.

Is the bump definitely milia, and could an eye-area product be aggravating it? Is removal needed or can it be observed? Which option protects my eyelid margin, and what symptoms after treatment should I report?