Milia: How to Get Rid of Those Tiny White Bumps Under Your Eyes

Key wellness / self-care strategies for milia (tiny white bumps under the eyes)

Stop squeezing or trying to pop them

• Milia are sealed pockets of keratin with no opening.
• Pressure can only bruise or injure the surrounding skin.
• Avoid DIY extraction with needles (especially around the eyes) to reduce risk of infection and scarring.

Don’t ignore “change”—get it checked

• Milia typically don’t change (they usually don’t grow, crust, bleed, or scab).
• Seek professional evaluation promptly if a bump is:
  • growing
  • changing color
  • crusting or scabbing
  • bleeding
  • not healing

Reason: A small number of skin cancers can mimic harmless bumps—most notably basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

Adjust skincare to reduce new milia

• Ease back on heavy/greasy eye creams and rich balms that may contribute to formation.
• Consider switching to:
  • a lighter moisturizer
  • a gentle, non-foaming cleanser
• This may be enough for some people to help prevent new bumps.

Use keratin-shedding/turnover support (retinoids)

• Consider a retinoid (commonly adapalene or tretinoin) to:
  • speed up skin cell turnover
  • help clear trapped keratin
  • reduce formation of fresh milia
• Notes:
  • availability varies by country (OTC vs prescription)
  • get guidance from a pharmacist or doctor
  • be gentle near the eyes

Optional: careful use of exfoliating acids

• A mild exfoliating acid, used sparingly, may help over time.

If you want them removed, use a professional

• Best left to a clinician if you want quick removal:
  • a sterile needle/nick can extract the keratin safely
• Most people won’t need more than the initial approach.

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How to tell milia vs other similar-looking (benign) bumps

Classic milia appearance

• Tiny white/cream, firm domes that remain unchanged → typically milia.

When it might be something else (still often harmless, but worth checking)

• Cluster of slightly larger soft skin-colored bumps → may be syringomas (sweat gland growth)
• Yellow bumps → may be sebaceous gland hyperplasia
• Flat, yellowish patches near eye corners → xanthogranulomas (can sometimes relate to high cholesterol)
• If unsure, get a trained skin assessment.

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Presenters / sources

• Dr. Finbar — GP with a special interest in dermatology and skin cancer (presenter)