The bumps under your eyes are almost certainly one of a few common skin conditions, and each one calls for a different approach. Before you can treat them effectively, you need to figure out which type you’re dealing with. The most common culprits are milia, syringomas, and xanthelasma, though allergic reactions and contact dermatitis can also cause bumps in this area.
Identify What Type of Bump You Have
The skin under your eyes is thinner than almost anywhere else on your body, which makes it prone to visible bumps that might not show up elsewhere. Here’s how to tell the most common types apart:
- Milia: Tiny white or yellowish bumps, usually 1 to 2 millimeters across. They look like whiteheads but feel firm and won’t pop when squeezed. They’re actually small cysts filled with keratin, a protein your skin produces naturally.
- Syringomas: Firm, round bumps that are 1 to 3 millimeters in diameter. They tend to appear in clusters of similarly sized bumps and can be yellow, translucent, or skin-colored. These are benign growths of the sweat glands.
- Xanthelasma: Flat or slightly raised yellowish patches or plaques, usually larger than milia or syringomas. They tend to appear on or near the eyelids and are caused by cholesterol deposits under the skin.
- Contact dermatitis: Red, swollen, itchy bumps that may sting or burn. These are an allergic or irritant reaction rather than a structural skin growth.
If your bumps are painless, firm, and have been there for weeks or months without changing, they’re most likely milia or syringomas. If they’re itchy, red, or appeared suddenly, you’re probably dealing with a reaction.
Getting Rid of Milia
Milia are the most common type of under-eye bump in adults, and the frustrating truth is that they won’t go away on their own as quickly as a pimple would. Some resolve within a few weeks or months, but many stick around indefinitely without intervention.
At-Home Options
Over-the-counter products can help prevent new milia and gradually encourage existing ones to resolve. Exfoliating cleansers with salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or citric acid help turn over dead skin cells that trap keratin beneath the surface. Start with an exfoliating cleanser once a week, since the under-eye area irritates easily. If your skin tolerates it well, you can slowly increase frequency.
Retinol is another effective option. Apply a retinol product once daily to clean, dry skin. It speeds up cell turnover, which can help milia work their way to the surface over time. Use a lower-strength retinol product around the eyes, since this skin is more sensitive than the rest of your face. Facial peels containing salicylic acid or glycolic acid can also help, though you should use these cautiously near the eye area.
Professional Extraction
For milia that won’t budge, a dermatologist can remove them in a quick office visit. The standard technique involves making a tiny nick in the skin’s surface with a fine blade, then gently pressing the intact cyst out through the opening using a small instrument or forceps. The whole process takes seconds per bump. Other options include electrocautery (using a small electrical current to destroy the cyst) and laser therapy.
Professional extraction typically costs around $150 per session, though prices vary by location and number of bumps treated. It’s usually considered cosmetic, so insurance rarely covers it.
Don’t Try to Pop Them Yourself
Squeezing or scraping at milia the way you might a pimple is a bad idea. Unlike acne, milia don’t have an opening to the skin’s surface, so pressing on them just damages the surrounding tissue. Self-extraction in the under-eye area can cause permanent scarring or introduce an infection into skin that sits right next to your eye.
Treating Syringomas
Syringomas are benign sweat gland growths, and no topical product will make them disappear. If they bother you cosmetically, removal requires a dermatologist. Treatment options are similar to those for milia: electrodesiccation, laser therapy, or careful surgical removal. Because syringomas tend to appear in clusters, treatment often addresses multiple bumps at once. They can recur after removal, so you may need follow-up sessions.
Since syringomas are harmless, treatment is entirely optional. They don’t grow into anything dangerous and won’t spread. Many people choose to leave them alone once they know what they are.
Xanthelasma and Cholesterol
Xanthelasma patches deserve extra attention because they can signal an underlying health issue. About half of people with xanthelasma have high cholesterol, and researchers have found that having these deposits makes you significantly more likely to develop high cholesterol or cardiovascular problems in the future, even if your levels are currently normal. If you notice yellowish patches near your eyes, getting your cholesterol checked is worthwhile regardless of whether you want the bumps removed.
Removal options include liquid nitrogen cryotherapy (freezing the deposit off), laser surgery, chemical peels, radiofrequency treatment, and surgical excision. Cryotherapy is typically the first-choice method. Addressing the underlying cholesterol issue, whether through diet, exercise, or medication, may help prevent new deposits from forming, but it won’t make existing ones disappear on its own.
When Bumps Are an Allergic Reaction
If your under-eye bumps are red, itchy, swollen, or burning, you’re likely dealing with eyelid dermatitis rather than a structural bump. The most common triggers are cosmetics (mascara, eyeliner, eye shadow, sunscreen), moisturizers and eye creams, false eyelashes, and fragrances or essential oils in skincare products.
The fix is straightforward: identify and stop using the product causing the reaction. If you recently introduced a new product to your routine, that’s the likely culprit. Strip your eye-area routine down to the basics and reintroduce products one at a time, waiting several days between each, to find the trigger. The bumps and irritation from contact dermatitis typically clear within a week or two once you remove the offending product. A cool compress can help with swelling and discomfort in the meantime.
Preventing New Bumps From Forming
Once you’ve dealt with existing bumps, a few habits can keep new ones from showing up. Heavy, occlusive eye creams and thick moisturizers can trap dead skin cells and contribute to milia, especially if you’re prone to them. Choose lighter, oil-free formulas for the under-eye area. Regular gentle exfoliation (once or twice a week) keeps dead skin from building up and blocking pores. Wearing sunscreen daily also helps, since sun damage thickens the outer layer of skin and makes it harder for keratin to shed normally.
If you’re using retinol on the rest of your face, extending it carefully to the under-eye area provides ongoing prevention. Pat a small amount onto the orbital bone rather than right up against the lash line, and use it on alternating nights until you know your skin can handle it.