What Causes Milia Under the Eyes — And How to Gently Deal With Them

Those Tiny White Bumps Under Your Eyes — What's Actually Going On?

You're doing your skincare routine, catch yourself in the mirror, and notice small, firm, pearly white bumps sitting just beneath your eyes. They don't hurt. They don't itch. But they won't budge no matter what you try. Sound familiar?

These little bumps are almost certainly milia — and they're incredibly common. Understanding what causes milia under the eyes is the first step to dealing with them properly, without making things worse.

So, What Exactly Are Milia?

Milia (singular: milium) are tiny cysts filled with keratin — a protein your skin naturally produces. They sit just beneath the surface of the skin and look like small white or yellowish pearls. Unlike spots or whiteheads, they have no opening, which is why squeezing them gets you absolutely nowhere.

They most commonly appear around the eye area, where the skin is incredibly thin and delicate. On medium and deep skin tones, they can sometimes appear slightly more raised or contrast more visibly against the skin, making them feel more noticeable.

What Causes Milia Under the Eyes?

There isn't one single cause — milia can develop for several reasons, and often it's a combination of factors. Here are the most common culprits:

• Dead skin cell build-up: When dead skin cells aren't shed properly, they can become trapped beneath the surface and form a cyst. This is the most frequent cause of primary milia.
• Heavy or occlusive skincare products: Rich eye creams, thick balms, or certain facial oils can clog the pores around the delicate eye area. When products sit on the surface rather than absorbing properly, they may contribute to milia formation.
• Sun damage: Chronic UV exposure can thicken the outer layer of the skin, making it harder for dead cells to shed naturally. This is a significant and often overlooked trigger.
• Skin trauma or inflammation: Blistering, burns, or even aggressive skincare treatments can disrupt the skin's natural cell-turnover process, leading to secondary milia.
• Lack of exfoliation: If you're not gently exfoliating, dead skin cells accumulate more easily — particularly in areas like under the eyes where the skin renews itself more slowly.
• Genetics: Some people are simply more prone to developing milia than others. If they run in your family, you may just be more susceptible.

White Bumps Under Eyes vs. Other Skin Concerns

It's worth knowing that not all white bumps under the eyes are milia. Closed comedones (clogged pores), syringomas (benign sweat gland growths), and even fat deposits called xanthelasma can look similar. If you're ever in doubt, it's always worth checking with a dermatologist — especially if the bumps are spreading or changing in appearance.

True milia are smooth, dome-shaped, and firm. They don't feel tender and they sit very close to the skin's surface. On deeper skin tones, it's also important not to confuse them with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which is flat and discoloured rather than raised and white.

What You Should NOT Do

This section might be the most important one. When you spot milia under the eyes, the temptation to pick, squeeze, or dig at them is real — but please resist. Here's what to avoid:

• Don't squeeze or pick them. Unlike spots, milia don't have a pore opening. Trying to force them out can cause scarring, inflammation, and on darker skin tones, can trigger post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that takes months to fade.
• Don't use harsh exfoliants around the eye area. Rough scrubs or strong chemical peels near the eyes can damage the delicate skin and make things worse.
• Don't layer heavy products around the eye area. If your eye cream is thick and greasy, it may be contributing to the problem. Less is often more around the eyes.
• Don't ignore sun protection. UV damage is a known contributor to milia. Skipping SPF accelerates the skin damage that makes milia more likely to form.

Gentle Approaches That Actually Help

Milia under the eyes often resolve on their own over time, but there are things you can do to support the process and prevent new ones from forming.

• Cleanse thoroughly but gently. A gentle double cleanse in the evening helps remove product build-up, excess sebum, and environmental debris without stripping or irritating the skin. This is especially important if you wear SPF or makeup regularly.
• Introduce gentle chemical exfoliation. Low-strength AHAs like lactic acid or mandelic acid used a few times a week can encourage healthy cell turnover without aggravating the eye area. Always keep these away from the immediate eye zone.
• Reassess your eye cream. Swap anything overly heavy for a lighter formula and apply it just to the orbital bone, not directly onto the under-eye skin.
• Wear SPF daily. Protecting your skin from UV damage consistently is one of the best long-term strategies for preventing milia from forming.
• See a professional for removal. A dermatologist or trained aesthetician can remove stubborn milia quickly and safely with a sterile needle or lancet. This is genuinely the most effective solution for persistent cases.

A Note on Darker Skin Tones

If you have a medium or deep skin tone, it's worth being extra cautious about anything that could trigger inflammation in the under-eye area. The skin around the eyes on darker complexions can be more prone to hyperpigmentation when irritated — meaning that picking at milia or using overly harsh treatments could leave you dealing with dark marks long after the milia themselves are gone. Slow, consistent, and gentle is always the approach worth taking.

Start With a Better Cleanse

One of the simplest changes you can make right now is upgrading how you cleanse. If product build-up around the eye area is contributing to your milia, a thorough but skin-kind double cleanse can make a real difference. Stroke, our double cleanser at Like It On Top, is formulated to dissolve impurities and residue without stripping your skin barrier — leaving you with a clean canvas your skin can actually breathe through. It's a gentle, intentional first step that your under-eye area will thank you for.