What should you know about milia seeds around eyes?

The thin skin around the eyes can show small pearly white or skin-coloured bumps clearly. Milia form when keratin is trapped beneath the surface; they are commonly smooth and not inflamed. Their position can make them look like whiteheads, but the two are different conditions. A clinician may use the appearance and feel of the lesion to distinguish milia from other skin bumps, eyelid conditions, or irritation.

Wash gently, avoid rubbing, and keep nails and cosmetic tools away from the bumps. Do not puncture them at home: an accidental injury near the eye can cause bleeding, infection, or a mark. Avoid putting acne treatments, acids, or retinoids on the eyelids unless an eye-aware clinician has told you exactly where and how to use them. Persistent lesions can be discussed with a dermatologist, who may offer careful extraction or another suitable treatment.

Seek prompt assessment if a bump causes eye pain, significant redness, discharge, spreading swelling, light sensitivity, or any change in vision. Arrange a routine review if it is growing, bleeding, crusting, or repeatedly irritated by contact lenses or cosmetics. These features deserve assessment because not every bump near the eye is milia.

Ask whether the bump is on the eyelid skin or near the eye surface, whether it is safe to observe, and which treatment has the least risk for that location. Ask when eye makeup can be resumed after any procedure and what symptoms should prompt a review.