White bumps under the eyes are most commonly milia, tiny cysts that form when a protein called keratin gets trapped beneath the skin’s surface. They’re typically 1 to 2 millimeters across, painless, and feel like small hard beads. While milia are the most likely explanation, a few other conditions can look similar, and telling them apart matters because they have different causes and treatments.
Milia: The Most Common Cause
Your skin constantly sheds dead cells to make room for new ones. When that process doesn’t work properly, dead cells and keratin (the protein that makes up your hair, skin, and nails) can become trapped just below the surface. This debris hardens over time and clumps together into small, firm cysts. The result is a pearly white bump that doesn’t pop like a pimple because it’s not filled with pus or oil.
Milia appear most often on the face, especially under the eyes, because the skin there is thinner and more delicate. That makes it easier for dead skin cells to get caught. They’re extremely common in newborns but also affect adults at any age. Unlike acne, they’re not caused by bacteria and they’re not inflamed.
What Triggers Them
Sun damage, skin injuries like burns or blistering, and certain skin conditions can all trigger milia by disrupting the skin’s normal shedding cycle. But one of the most overlooked causes is heavy skincare products. Occlusive creams and balms, which work by creating a barrier on top of the skin to lock in moisture, can hinder your skin’s natural exfoliation process and provoke milia formation. Common occlusive ingredients to watch for include mineral oil, beeswax, lanolin, petroleum, squalene, and dimethicone.
This doesn’t mean you need to avoid eye cream altogether. It means that if you’re prone to milia, switching to a lighter, non-occlusive formula may help prevent new bumps from forming.
Other Conditions That Look Similar
Not every bump under the eye is milia. Two other conditions are worth knowing about.
Syringomas
Syringomas are firm, small bumps caused by overgrowth of sweat gland ducts. They typically appear in clusters and are yellow, translucent, or skin-colored rather than the bright pearly white of milia. They tend to be slightly larger and more rounded, and they won’t resolve on their own. Syringomas are benign but persistent, and removing them usually requires a dermatologist.
Xanthelasma
Xanthelasma are soft, flat or slightly raised yellowish patches that form on or around the eyelids. They’re caused by cholesterol deposits under the skin, and they can signal something more serious. A study highlighted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology found that nearly 50 percent of people with xanthelasma had high cholesterol or other lipid disorders, compared with 38 percent of people without them. The xanthelasma group also had a 14 percent risk of major cardiovascular events like heart attacks or strokes, versus about 12 percent in controls. If you notice yellowish, flat patches near your eyes, getting your cholesterol checked is a smart move.
How to Tell If a Bump Needs Attention
Milia, syringomas, and xanthelasma are all benign. But skin cancer can occasionally appear near the eyes and be mistaken for a harmless bump. Basal cell carcinoma sometimes shows up as a pearly or shiny lump, which can resemble a large milium. The key differences: cancerous spots may become inflamed, ulcerate, bleed, or partially heal and then flare up again. They also tend to change in size, shape, color, or texture over time. A milium stays stable, small, and unchanging. If a bump is growing, bleeding, or looking different from week to week, it’s worth having a dermatologist examine it.
Skincare Ingredients That Help
You can’t scrub milia away with a washcloth, but certain ingredients encourage the skin turnover that prevents keratin from getting trapped in the first place. Look for exfoliating cleansers or treatments containing salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or citric acid. These help dissolve the bonds between dead skin cells so they shed normally instead of accumulating under the surface.
Retinoids (vitamin A derivatives) are another effective option. They speed up cell turnover and help keep pores clear. Retinol, the milder over-the-counter form, is a good starting point. Use any retinoid product just once per day, and introduce it gradually since the under-eye area is sensitive and prone to irritation. Combining gentle chemical exfoliation with a lighter moisturizer is often enough to prevent new milia from forming.
Why You Shouldn’t Extract Them Yourself
It’s tempting to try popping milia with a needle, but they’re not like pimples. The keratin plug sits inside a tiny cyst wall, and squeezing or picking at the surface rarely releases it. What it does do is irritate the surrounding skin, which increases the risk of infection and scarring. The skin under your eyes is some of the thinnest on your body, so damage there is more visible and slower to heal.
Professional Removal Options
If milia bother you cosmetically, a dermatologist can remove them quickly. The most common approach is manual extraction using a small sterile blade or comedone extractor to open the cyst and release the keratin plug. Other options include electrodessication (using a tiny electrical current to break down the cyst), curettage (scraping), cauterization, or ablative laser therapy. For milia that keep recurring, a dermatologist may prescribe topical tretinoin, a stronger prescription retinoid.
Recovery is fast. You’ll notice small pinpoint redness right after the procedure, but because the extraction is so superficial, the area typically heals within a week, with most of the visible recovery happening in 3 to 5 days. During that window, avoid applying makeup, harsh cleansers, or heavy lotions to the area. Rinsing with cool water and applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment helps prevent infection and supports healing.
Milia can recur even after professional removal, especially if the underlying cause (heavy products, sun damage, or sluggish skin turnover) isn’t addressed. Pairing removal with a prevention-focused skincare routine gives you the best chance of keeping them from coming back.