white spots under eye

White Spots

Milia under Eye Causes, in Baby, Removal Cream, Get Rid & Treatment

August 9, 2018

Do you have small, tiny or little spots under your eyes, eyelid or eyebrows? Milia may develop under your eyes after excessive exposure to the sun, use of oily cosmetic products, long-term use of steroidal creams and due to genetic factors. Therefore, in this post, we explore more on the cause of milia under eye and how to get rid of them.

Milia under Eye Causes

White spots under eye

Milia spots under eye develop because of the inability of skin in shedding off the dead skin cells. Due to the dead skin cells accumulating on the surface layer of skin thus forming bumps.

Milia are commonly seen in the newborn infants, they might also happen to adults. Usually, adults and also the children have milia on the face. They are normally found in several clusters.

Milia are categorized in two main forms, primary as well as secondary. Primary milia are common in newborns, while the secondary milia are seen in adults as well as children.

Below are some factors that have been found to be responsible for the development of the harmless, but unsightly pearly bumps

Genetics are said to play an important role in the development of milia. If someone in the family has had milia, then the possibility of it happening to other members of the family greatly increases. This type of primary milia is mostly seen in infants some months after their birth.
Use of the oily products on the skin and also heavy cosmetics might trap the dead skin cells in pores and lead to milia.
Sun exposure is one cause for milia forming especially on face and also under the eyes. The skin that is under the eyes and also the face can become thick and tough. It also prevents the glands from shedding the dead skin from the surface. When the dead skin cells accumulate, it can then develop into milia.
Milia might also develop because of the use of steroidal creams for a longer period of time.

Milia under the Eyebrow

The formation of milia is usually attributed to the build-up of the dead skin cells, which then forms into the keratin cysts which clogs the pores. Milia are very much common among babies (also known as the primary milia).

Doctors usually recommend leaving it alone as it will disappear within a few weeks. Secondary milia, which appear in adults happens due to burns and blisters. This and the use of heavy makeup on regular basis can also clog up pores and thus prevent skin renewal, which leads to the formation of milia.

It has also been said that milia can get worse due to the sun exposure. A habit of not wearing sunscreen, not avoiding the sun, not wearing protective gear so as to shield the skin from the sun’s rays can aggravate milia.

Not only can it make milia to be tougher to get rid of, it can as well increase the likelihood of milia coming back.

Milia under the Eye of a Baby

Milia are small (about 2 mm) pearly white cysts on the surface of the skin which is common in people of all ages but are noticeable in infants as they are found on the face.

Milia can form due to the oil gland in the infant which is still developing, and the skin does not slough off but can instead remain trapped in a pocket in the skin.

Milia under the eye is normally classified into 2 main types: primary milia, which happen on normal, healthy skin; and the secondary milia, which is found on skin that is affected by another skin condition.

Milia that are usually found on the roof of the mouth in infants is known as Epstein pearls and are very much normal in the newborns.

There are types of milia. These particular cysts are classified largely based on age at which they happen or even the injury that leads to the cysts developing.

Neonatal Milia

This condition usually develops in the newborns and then heals within weeks. Cysts are usually seen on the face, and also the upper torso. According to the Stanford School of Medicine, milia happens in about 30 percent of the newborn babies.

Juvenile Milia

This condition is brought about by genetic disorders. These might include:

Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome
Gardner syndrome
Bazex-Dupré-Christol syndrome

Primary Milia in Children and Adults

This condition is brought about by keratin that is trapped under the skin surface. Cysts may be found around eyelids and on genitalia. Primary milia can disappear in weeks or even last for several months.

Milia en Plaque

This condition is usually associated with the genetic or even the autoimmune skin disorders, like the lichen planus. Milia en plaque is able to affect the eyelids, cheeks, or jaw.

The cysts may be several centimeters in the diameter. This condition is usually seen in middle-aged women, but it can happen in adults as well as the children of all genders and ages.

Multiple Eruptive Milia

This type of milia is due to the itchy areas that might appear on the face, upper arms, and also the torso. The cysts normally appear over a span of time, which ranges from a few weeks to months.

Traumatic Milia

These cysts happen where injury to the skin has happened. Examples are severe burns and also rashes. The cysts can be irritated, thus making them appear red along the edges and then white in the center.

Milia Associated with Drugs

The use of the steroid creams can cause milia on the skin where the cream is applied. But, such side effects from the topical medications are very rare.

How to Remove Milia under Eye Naturally

Milia, also known as the milk spots, is the small white bumps that usually appear around and also under the eyes. They can also appear on nose, forehead, and chest.

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Roast some amount of pomegranate peels until they are dark brown and brittle, and then crush them into powder.
Add some amount of lemon juice or even the rose water to 2 tablespoons of powder so as to make a paste.
Gently rub it on the face. Leave it on for about 20 minutes before rinsing it off.
Follow the remedy 3 times a week until the bumps completely disappear.

Castor Oil

How to get rid of milia under eye naturally

Natural remedy for bumps under the eyes

Castor oil contains natural healing as well as antibacterial properties and also assists to control oil production, thus curing several skin problems which include acne and milia.

Simply apply one-half teaspoon of castor oil on face and leave it on until it is absorbed into the skin. Do this process daily for many months.
You may also use a mixture of equal parts of the castor oil and also the olive oil in a similar way.
Alternatively, you may use a paste of one teaspoon of castor oil and baking soda on the affected area. Leave it on for some hours and then wash it off. Repeat the process daily for about two weeks.

Sugar Scrub

Using sugar scrub might prove highly to be beneficial in doing away with the milia under your eye as it exfoliates the skin. Also, this recipe includes lemon juice and also the olive oil which make the skin softer and also brighter.

Squeeze out the juice from a one-half piece of lemon and then mix it with about two tablespoons of the granulated sugar and just one teaspoon of the olive oil.
Gently scrub the mixture onto skin for some minutes.
Leave it on for about 20 minutes and then rinse it off.
Do this process about twice a week for about 3 months.

Cornstarch and Vinegar

A combination of the cornstarch and vinegar, and preferably apple cider vinegar, is a useful remedy to get rid of the whitehead-type milia. Cornstarch usually absorbs excess oil and vinegar works as an astringent.

Add enough amount of cornstarch to at least one teaspoon of vinegar so as to make a paste.
Apply it on the affected area and leave it on for 30 minutes.
Get rid of the paste with a washcloth that is soaked in warm water.
Do the process daily until the bumps are completely gone. In most of the cases, it indicates positive results within days.

Tea Tree Oil

Regular application of the tea tree oil can greatly assist to dry up the small white milia bumps. Moreover, it is a natural disinfectant for the skin.

You are required to clean the face thoroughly and then dab some amount of the tea tree essential oil on the affected area at least once daily, preferably at night before going to sleep. Rinse the face in the morning. Continue this particular home treatment until you can see some improvement.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera contains soothing, anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant properties which assist to treat milia easily. It also assists to open up the skin’s pores.

Massage the affected skin area using fresh succulent gel that is extracted from aloe vera leaf. Leave it on overnight and then ensure that you wash it off in the morning. Do the process twice daily until the bumps completely disappear. It usually indicates positive results within a few days.
You can also apply a combination of equal parts of aloe vera gel and green tea. Leave it on for about 15 minutes and then rinse it off. It is especially good for the skin area around the eyes as it assists to fade dark circles, also.

Fenugreek Leaves

Fenugreek leaves are usually used in Ayurveda as a beauty aid to do away with the acne breakouts, blackheads, milia, and blemishes. They contain antiseptic, anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant properties.

Grind some amount of fresh fenugreek leaves together with a little water.
Spread the paste on face.
Leave it on for 15 minutes and then wash it off.
Repeat the process daily until the bumps have disappeared.

In addition to the use of these home remedies, follow some measures such as avoiding the use of harsh chemicals on the skin, reducing the sun exposure, and cleaning the skin about twice daily. Also, drink plenty of water, and herbal teas (such as green tea) to flush toxins from the body.

For milia on the newborn babies, wash the baby’s skin daily using lukewarm water and pat dry using a soft, clean towel.

Milia under Eye Treatment

A dermatologist is able to express the keratin out of the milia by use of a small blade (but do not try the procedure at home) — or you might rely on over the counter ingredients which may get the job done.

Topical alpha hydroxyl acids, such as the glycolic acid and also the lactic acid, may be very useful ingredients for the mild exfoliation of skin so as to encourage the milia to come to the surface and thus pop out.

Try an acid toner or even the home peel about twice a week, or look for a face lotion that has alpha hydroxyl acids. On spot, salicylic acid treatments may also be used over the milia so as to slowly peel the overlying skin, and also thin out the layers which are trapping the milia cyst. Use this only at night time.

Topical retinoids can be very much helpful for preventing the development of milia cysts and advises to look for ingredients over the counter that contain retinoids.

Some of them include adapalene and retinol which encourages cell turnover and thus reduce the stickiness of cells in the pore. This help to bring them to the skin surface, where they might be washed off.

While milia aren’t very much harmful, if you’d like to do away with it, these seven products might greatly assist.

Milia Treatment Cream

Differin Gel

As the first FDA-approved over the counter retinoid having 0.1 percent adapalene (which was previously found only by a prescription), this particular gel normalizes the skin cell turnover and also attacks milia and several other forms of acne through unclogging pores and also reducing the inflammation.

It’s very crucial to note that this particular treatment is very much strong and also effective, which implies that it’s crucial to start slowing and sticking with it.

Milia under the Eye Pictures

Picture of small bumps under the eye

The size and shape on milia vary depending on the cause, they may be small, tiny, little or relatively larger. They can appear under the lower eyelids or on upper eyelids. The areas surrounding the eye can also get affected. You can learn more from the various pictures we have provided in this post.

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