What is causing the bumpy skin under your eyes and how to treat it?

It can be confusing to know what these small bumps under our eyes are and how to treat them. Here is a brief reference of three types of lesions under the eyes that are most common.

Sebaceous Gland Prominence: visible oil glands around the eye due to thinner skin. These are normal, and while there is no official “treatment,” using a retinoid around the eye area to improve skin quality can help improve the appearance. Office treatments like lasers, will also help to improve skin quality. Often, these are mistaken as milia but they ARE NOT milia. The causes are thin skin and genetics.

Syringomas: overgrowth of sweat glands that can cause small benign tumors. They are harmless but can be treated with lasers at a derm office. They appear primarily in the eye areas and upper cheeks. They resemble milia, but are not extractable ~

Milia: Tiny epidermal surface pockets of keratin and sebum that appear in all skin types and all ages. They are caused by an accumulation of oil and dead skin cells that get trapped under the skin. They sometimes go away on their own with the use of AHAs/BHAs and retinoids (that are safe around the eye area) but in some cases, they have to be removed by your dermatologist. A single lesion is called a milium. They are benign and mainly just an aesthetic nuisance.

Causes are: not exfoliating enough, incorrect eye creams, thick moisturizers, sun damage, and leaving makeup on overnight. 

•    Resembles tiny sesame seeds.
•    Frequently found in the eye area.
•    May have a yellow tone if the client has chronic sun exposure.

They are easily removed by using a sterile lancet by your dermatologist, and gently inserted into the side of the milium. Using cotton swabs, your dermatologist would squeeze the pocket from the sides, pushing the pocket toward the insertion. The debris should come out easily.

If you have repetitive milia formation, home care use of glycolic or salicylic serum may be helpful. Also, it is advisable to soften eye makeup before removal and to be gentle when cleansing the eye area.

Always keep in mind that expert advice, the right skincare, and regular facials go a long way to minimizing the occurrence of these pesky bumps.