What are the causes of whiteheads on eyelid? Get insight of reasons for white spots on rim, lower, upper side, white bump, small, won’t go away, how to get rid.
Why do I have Whiteheads on Eyelid?
A milium cyst is small, whiteheads on eyelid that typically appears on the eyelids. These cysts are often found in groups, and in these cases are called milia. The cysts occur when keratin becomes trapped beneath the surface of the skin of the eyelids.
Milia are small, dome-shaped bumps that are usually white or yellow. They’re usually not itchy or painful. However, they may cause discomfort for some people. Rough sheets or clothing may cause milia to become irritated and red.
Whiteheads on Eyelid Causes
They include.
- Neonatal Milia
This situation develops in newborns and heals within a few weeks. Cysts are typically seen as whiteheads on eyelids. According to the Stanford School of Medicine, milium occurs in about 40 percent of newborn babies.
- Juvenile Milia
This condition is caused by genetic disorders. These include:
- nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome
- pachyonychia congenita
- Gardner syndrome
- Bazex-Dupré-Christol syndrome
- Primary Milia in Children and Adults
This situation is caused by keratin trapped beneath the skin surface. Cysts can be seen as whiteheads on eyelid of an individual. Primary milia may disappear in a few weeks or last for several months.
- Milia en Plaque
This condition is commonly associated with genetic or autoimmune skin disorders, such as discoid lupus or lichen planus that can lead to whiteheads on eyelid. Milia en plaque can affect the eyelids, ears, cheeks, or jaw.
- Multiple Eruptive Milia
This type of milia consists of itchy areas that can appear on the face that causes appearance of whiteheads on eyelids, upper arms, and torso. The cysts often appear over a span of time, ranging from a few weeks to a few months.
- Traumatic Milia
These cysts occur where injury to the skin around the eyelid has occurred. Examples include severe burns and rashes that lead to occurrence of whiteheads on eyelid. The cysts may become irritated, making them red along the edges and white in the center.
- Allergy from Drugs
The use of steroid creams can lead to milia on the skin around the eyelids where the cream is applied stimulating the appearance of whiteheads on eyelids. However, such side effects from topical medications are rare.
- Stye on eyelid
Staphylococcus bacteria belong to a group of bacteria that are found naturally on the eyelid. When any internal or external factor stimulates excessive growth of these otherwise harmless bacteria, an infection of the oil producing glands in the eyelids may occur.
The infection shows as red, tender, swollen area of skin on the eyelid(s) coupled with a tiny white bump in the center (filled with pus). Styes usually appear as small whiteheads on eyelid.
- Small white bump after blepharoplasty
Some people who have had lower or upper eyelid surgery, called blepharoplasty, experience the whiteheads on eyelid.
- Eyelid makeup
Expired eye makeup or cosmetics as well as dirty tools for applying makeup can cause an infection in the eye leading to whiteheads on eyelid. If makeup clogs your pores too, you are also likely to get an infected cyst on the eyelid rim.
- Whiteheads on eyelid from contacts
Poorly cleaned contact lenses carry bacteria and other types of germs. When introduced in the eye, these bacteria can cause infections that manifest with symptoms such as small pus-filled bumps on the eyelid etc.
- Chalazion
A chalazion begins as a small painful bump but the pain reduces and finally ceases as the bump continues to increase in size.When a chalazion grows too large as to cause a distortion of the structure of the cornea, it may cause blurred vision or obstruction to the eye.
- Cholesterol bumps on eyelid
White bump on eyelid rim, below or above could be caused by cholesterol. These look like small globs that contain white fat under the skin. Cholesterol spots around eyes usually start as one bump that grows.
Whiteheads on Eyelid Rim
Causes include:
- Use of expired make-ups
Expired eye makeup or cosmetics as well as dirty tools for applying makeup can cause an infection in the eye. If makeup clogs your pores too, you are also likely to get an infected cyst on the eyelid rim. Avoid leaving makeup on when you go to sleep as this can cause clogged eyelash pores.
- Contaminated contact lenses
Poorly cleaned contact lenses carry bacteria and other types of germs. When introduced in the eye, these bacteria can cause infections that manifest with symptoms such as small pus-filled bumps on the eyelid etc.
- Cholesterol on eyelid rim
Whiteheads on eyelid below or above could be caused by cholesterol. These look like small globs that contain white fat under the skin. Cholesterol spots around eyes usually start as one bump that grows. After a while, they become clusters of bumps.
- Whiteheads on eyelid rim after blepharoplasty
Whiteheads cyst on the upper or lower eyelid is likely to be an epithelial inclusion cyst. This is another name for milia. The small white bumps on eyelid rim usually occur along the incision lines.
- Milia spots
Milia whiteheads on eyelid are small white bumps or cysts. They occur in groups or clusters, so they form clusters of whiteheads on eyelid rim.
- white pimple on eyelid
The infection shows as red, tender, swollen area of skin on the eyelid(s) coupled with a tiny white bump in the center (filled with pus). Styes usually appear as small white pimples on eyelash line.
Whitehead on Lower Eyelid
A white pimple on the eyelid can stay rather small and barely noticeable or it can grow, swell and become painful. A pimple-like growth may be a result of using expired cosmetics or improperly cleaned contact lenses.
They include:
- Hordeolum
The bump is white where it is filled with pus, but it can also be red or surrounded by a red and sometimes swollen area. Watery eyes and pain are other symptoms that often accompany a chalazion or sty.
- Sty Causes
Poor hygiene, especially rubbing your eyes with dirty hands, often exposes the eyelid to bacteria. The bacteria then infect the eyelid’s oil glands and cause a bump. Staphylococcus is a common bacterium that leads to a sty, although any type of bacteria is fair game, according to Family Doctor.
- Blepharitis
If you suffer from constant sties and swollen eyes, you could be suffering from blepharitis, according to Mayo Clinic. This chronic condition results in inflamed eyelids, usually near the eyelashes. Malfunctioning oil glands at the base of the lashes is the cause of blepharitis, and sties are a common side effect.
- Chalazion Causes
A chalazion is another pimple-like bump that crops up on the eyelid, according to the American Optometric Association. A blocked or swollen oil gland on the lid causes a chalazion, but an infected oil gland causes a sty. A chalazion often starts out as a painful bump but, as it continues to grow, it no longer hurts. A chalazion also tends to grow larger than a sty, sometimes reaching the size of a pea.
Whitehead on Upper Eyelid
Causes are:
- Eyelid cyst
Cysts are quite too common. They come from bacterial infections. When a pore on the eyelid waterline or rim is blocked, the buildup within the pore attracts bacteria. An eyelid cyst appears as a pimple because it is a fluid-filled sac.
- Ocular rosacea eyelid
People who suffer from rosacea have a higher chance of getting an eyelid pimple. Ocular rosacea is the “inflammation that causes redness, burning and itching of the eyes.” The condition has a high prevalence in people who flush and blush easily.
- Acne
Acne can develop almost anywhere on the skin. The eyelid too can get acne whiteheads. The cause of such eyelid pimples is when the skin pores on the eyelid rim or waterline gets clogged.
Dead skin, bacteria and oil get trapped in the pore. This accumulation and blockage causes bacterial action that leads to an infected pimple or whitehead on eyelid that erupts into a bump.
- Eyelid products
Eye makeup such as mascara, eye shadow and eyeliners can clog pores on the eyelid rim and cause an eruption of a zit or bump. Health Line Networks lists makeup as one of the causes of external eyelid styes.
- Giant papillary conjunctivitis
A bump inside eyelids due to contact lenses is called giant papillary conjunctivitis. They occur as small bumps on the inner lining of the eyelid, also called the eyelid waterline. Wearing contact lenses can cause chronic irritation that leads to bumps that grow big.
- Fatty lump
xanthelasma is a lipid disorder that causes a yellowish, firm nodule, papule, bump or plaque on the skin. According to Skin Site, xanthomas form on both eye lids and feel soft. They are yellow bumps on eyelids because of the accumulation of cholesterol or lipid.
White Bump on Eyelid
Most bumps on the eyelid are styes. A stye is an inflamed oil gland on the edge of your eyelid, where the lash meets the lid. It appears as a red, swollen bump that looks like a pimple. It is often tender to the touch.
A stye is caused by a blockage of one of the oil glands in the eyelids. This allows bacteria to grow inside the blocked gland. Styes are a lot like common acne pimples that occur elsewhere on the skin.
Styes most often develop over a few days. They may drain and heal on their own. A stye can become a chalazion, which occurs when an inflamed oil gland becomes fully blocked. If a chalazion gets large enough, it can cause trouble with your vision.
Other possible common whitehead eyelid bumps include:
- Blepharitis
- Chalazion Causes
- Eyelid cyst
- Cholesterol bumps on eyelid
- Milia en Plaque
Hard Whiteheads on Eyelid
One common culprit for this problem is styes. As we have already mentioned, a stye develop when an oil gland in the eyelid gets infected for whatever reason e.g. poor hygiene, internal and external factors that cause an excessive growth of the otherwise harmless staphylococcus bacteria that are naturally found on the skin, etc.
Although most stys occur along the outside of the eyelid, some may occur inside the eyelid as the WebMD website points out. When a stye occurs on the inside of the eyelid is referred to as hordeolum. This is usually caused by an infection of one of the small oil glands found inside the eyelids.
Chalazia (bumps caused by blocking of oil glands in the eyelids) can also manifest themselves as white bumps inside the eyelid as the WebMD says. Chalazia tend to appear further from the outline of the eyelids than styes and usually grow larger than styes
Based on these facts, we can conclude that styes and chalazia bumps can manifest themselves externally as well as internally and are the prime suspects for eye leading to whiteheads on eyelid.
Little, Tiny White Bump on Eyelid
Using expired cosmetic products and improperly cleaned or handled contact lenses, poor removal of dead skin cells, and blocking and inflammation of oil glands can all lead to tiny whiteheads on eyelids.
The bumps may stay small or continue to grow over time and get more painful. In some cases, the bump may be painful but become progressively less painful as it increases in size.
Although whiteheads on eyelid are generally not serious medical issues, with the exception of those that inhibit your vision, they may be particularly painful and/or unsightly, necessitating the attention of your doctor.
Whitehead on Eyelid won’t go away
The eyelid belongs to the most delicate areas of the body. There are numerous glands in this area that are wide open to maintain eye lubrication. Therefore, due to its intricate structure, this area is relatively vulnerable to any infections of the eye.
A whitehead bump is usually the result of clogging and inflammation of the oil glands present on the eyelid. These bumps may stay as small lesions and hardly observable or may swell up and become especially painful, depending on the cause. Aside from stye, there are other eye infections that cause white bumps to surface on the eyelids.
Some of the common causes include:
- Eye Stye
This infection is usually due to Staphylococcus bacteria. Normally, these bacteria belong to the normal microflora that exist in the eyelid and are typically undisruptive. Once internal and external factors encourage bacterial growth, their number uncontrollably expands. They attack the oil producing glands and infect it. The infection is manifested by the development of a red, tender and swollen area on the eyelid with a small white bump on its center. This white bump is regularly filled with pus.
- Chalazion
When the meibomian gland, located within the tarsal plate, is clogged up, a cyst called chalazion emerges. Normally, this sebaceous gland produces a sticky substance which assists in sustaining the moisture of the eyelashes. Once in a while, its duct may become blocked, resulting to the clogging of the sebaceous gland by sebum. As an inflammatory response to the retained oil secretion, a white bump develops on the area which is small in size.
The bump may be painful at first, as it continues to develop, it becomes painless. The affected individual may also report blurring of vision especially when the bump is large enough to cause a distortion in the natural structure of the cornea. This eye infection is commonly confused with eye stye, however, unlike stye, chalazion is not caused by bacteria and is likely to grow larger.
- Milia
Eventhough adults can also become affected, milia is a condition which commonly affects the newborn and young children. In this condition, a very small solid white bump develops on the eyelid. This is due to the failure of the children’s skin to get rid of dead cells the way it should be. In adults, the frequent causes are severe sunburn and eyelid trauma.
Other causes include:
- Hormonal imbalance
- Lack of adequate hygiene
- Use of certain medication (especially lithium, androgens and corticosteroids)
- Following a diet that contains high amounts of carbohydrate rich foods
- Dry eyes
- Itchy eyes
- Lumps on eyelid rim getting bigger or keeps growing
How to get rid of Whiteheads on Eyelid
Treatment tips:
- Observe proper hygiene measures: Avoid rubbing your eyes with unclean hands and wash your hands thoroughly any time you have to touch your eyes e.g. to wear contact lenses.
- Avoid sharing cosmetic products and ensure that all the products have not surpassed their expiry date.
- Avoid using any cosmetic product on an infected eyelid until it has fully healed.
- Styes and chalazions heal away on their own, generally taking a week and a month or more respectively. 4 to 6 Warm compresses (pressing the eyelids with a washcloth soaked in warm water) a day can however help to speed up the healing process.
- Clean the eyelids with a gentle soap or baby shampoo.
- Never squeeze a bump to drain it at home as this can be a precursor to an infection (or further infection)
- If an eyelid bumps however bothers you, talk to your doctor; prescription medications are usually enough to treat eyelid bumps but surgery may be performed to get rid of more serious or persistent bumps
- Antibiotic creams may also be used (as advised by your doctor) to treat sties more so if they are recurrent. Although rarely, oral antibiotics may be administered to treat chronic stys.
- Pre-moistened eyelid cleaning pads may also be given for everyday use to curb the risk of sties.
Natural ways:
- Warm compress
A warm compress can treat a stye or tender pimple on the rim of your eyelid. It will increase the circulation of blood on the area around the eye, above the eyebrow and on the lower eyelid. This will make it heal faster.
- Baby shampoo cure
If you have a stye, a tea-free baby shampoo can help get rid of the stye bump fast. It will also help prevent other eruptions.
- Green tea bag remedy
Another home remedy for styes is using a green tea bag as a warm compress. It works as a good natural antibiotic. It can prevent and cure many bacterial as well as fungal infections on the skin around eyes. It can also relieve swelling and make the eye heal faster.
- Honey
Honey helps treat milia due to its antioxidant and humectant properties (retains moisture and avoids dryness). It also can be combined with other ingredients to make a facial scrub to exfoliate your skin and reduce milia.
- Castor Oil
Castor oil has natural healing and antibacterial properties and also helps control oil production, thereby curing a number of skin problems including acne and milia.
- Sugar Scrub
Using a simple sugar scrub can prove highly beneficial in getting rid of milia as it exfoliates the skin. Furthermore, this recipe includes lemon juice and olive oil that make your skin softer and brighter.
- Cornstarch and Vinegar
A combination of cornstarch and vinegar, preferably apple cider vinegar, is another useful remedy to do away with whitehead-type milia. Cornstarch absorbs excess oil and vinegar works as an astringent.
- Aloe Vera
Aloe vera has soothing, healing, and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help treat milia easily. It also helps open up the skin’s pores.
- Fenugreek Leaves
Fenugreek leaves are extensively used in Ayurveda as a beauty aid to get rid of acne breakouts, blackheads, milia, boils, and blemishes. They have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.