Having white spots under eyes or around your eyes is an indication of various conditions. The white spots, dots or patches may be a mild condition such as acne or pimples. However, in rare cases, the white spots may be a sign of a more serious condition such as cancer. Discover the causes of white spots under eye. Also, explore their symptoms and pictures and how to get rid of them with treatments and home remedies
Signs & Symptoms of White Spots Under Eyes
Have you ever seen unusual white spots under eyes and above the nose? These white spots under your eyes can be bumps or pimples like dots in nature. Generally, these spots under the eyes vary in shapes and sizes. They can be either scattered or clustered at the same point on the skin.
Here are signs and symptoms of white spots under eyes, which include:
- Raised or flat white or pale yellow bumps under the eyes
- Painless nodules under eyelids
- Small white or yellow dots around the eyes
- Large painless white bumps on skin under the lower or upper eyelids
- Hard white cysts like pimples on lower eyelids
Causes of White Spots Under Eyes
The problem of having white spots under your eyes can result from different factors or causes. It is important to understand the possible factors that can encourage the formation of white spots under the eyes. Being conversant with these causes, it can help you to prevent and escape white spots under eyes.
The following can be the possible reasons for having white spots under your eyes, which include:
1. Milia
Milia are skin conditions known to be characterized by small white raised bumps on the surface of the skin. Milium cysts often appear on nose, cheeks and under the eyes. Milium cysts can cluster together to form milia spots that appear as white spots under eyes.
Milia can attack the skin of anybody and cause white spots under the eyes. The condition is common in infants or toddlers. The baby face can develop milia spots which result in white spots the under eyes, cheeks or any other part of the face. This condition can confuse you with acne because sometimes people may inaccurate describe this condition as baby acne.
Unlike in babies who get affected by milia on the entire face, adults can also develop milia spots typically under the eyes and on the nose. However, adults can develop milia cysts on other parts of the skin but under rare conditions.
Milia cysts on the face are attributed to be caused by a deposit of keratin under the skin to form raised bumps. In baby skin, milia develop from dead skin cells that are trapped beneath the skin surface hence the formation of white bumps on the skin.
The condition of having milia cysts on the skin is usually harmless and cannot advance into a serious health problem. Milia eyes can last few weeks on you and sometimes no need to go for treatment. For your interest, you can speed up the healing of milia on your skin by going for medical treatment.
You can remove milia cysts on the skin by using skin exfoliating products from recommended pharmacists. Alternatively, you can prevent these conditions on your skin through the application of simple methods or practices that can help you to escape milia problems that can result to white spots under eyes.
Tips to prevent milia
- Avoid oily make-ups products that can clog pores on the skin
- Keep your skin moisten by drinking enough clean water or fluids
- Keep your skin clean by washing your face twice per day
- Avoid direct sunlight that can burn your skin and cause milia to develop
Although milia is a common cause of white spots under eyes, it is not the only cause. There are many cases of white spots which is not caused by milia as discussed in the following sections.
2. Cholesterol deposit (xanthelasma)
Xanthelasma is the deposit of cholesterol around the eye regions. The consequence of having a high amount of lipid in the blood system can be revealed through white spot under eyes. Xanthelasma results to soft and yellow bumps on lower or upper eye lid. The high amount of cholesterol in the body not only causes white dots but also result to chicken skin under eyes and on the nose.
The lesions that develop from cholesterol deposit usually have no effect on the functions of eyelids. Despite having xanthelasma, you can blink your eyelids without any difficulties. Occasionally, the white spots under eyes can gradually increase in size by time and become bothersome to you.
An individual with lipid disorder in their body is often affected by xanthelasma. The medical term used to describe lipid disorder is dyslipidemia. Lipid disorder is associated with an increase in fatty contents such as complex fatty acid in the body. White spots under eyes are correlated with the amount of cholesterol in the body. This means that increase in body cholesterol results to increase in white or yellow dots on the face.
You can develop lipid disorder when you are exposed to predisposing factors that encourage this disorder.
Some of the risk factors that can result to lipid disorders include the following:
- Hereditary or genetic factors like lack of lipoprotein lipase, an enzyme that controls lipids in the body hence high amount of lipid will accumulate in the body
- Taking food that has a lot of saturated fats
- High consumption of alcohol or use of tobacco products
- Lack of physical exercise that keep body physically fit
- Overweight
- Some medications like anabolic steroids, retinoid, estrogen, corticosteroids, and oral contraceptive
- Underlying conditions in the body like hypothyroidism and renal disorders
For you to reduce white spots under eyes caused by cholesterol deposit on the skin of the face, avoid the risk factors that can encourage lipid disorder. This condition can be managed by doctors who can give advice to you about the lifestyle you can adopt in order to avoid the white spots under eyes.
3. Chalazion
Chalazia can also be the causal agent of the white spot under eyes. Chalazion or meibomian cyst is small white bumps that can develop on your lower or upper eyelid. The color of the Chalazion can range from white, yellow or even red. Chalazia can appear either on one or both eyelids at the same time. Large sizes of the Chalazion lump can affect the vision of your eyes.
A chalazion can easily confuse you with a stye because both are bumps that occur on the eyelids. Keep in mind that a stye appears as a red painful bump that develops specifically where eyelash is attached on the eyelid and it is caused by bacterial infection that affects entire eyes. While a Chalazion is not painful and it develops under the eyelid as a result of clogged oil in the glands.
Chalazion appears on the eyelid due to inflammation of meibomian glands that are clogged. Meibomian gland is an oil gland that is located in the middle of the eyelids and it helps to moisten your eyes. Clogging of this oil gland at its opening due to skin debris can make the gland to swell and form raised lump under your eyes. The swollen meibomian glands usually appear like white spots under eyes.
Some underlying condition on the skin can also affect meibomian glands to form a Chalazion. These conditions include the following:
- Acne that comprises whiteheads, blackheads, papules, nodules, and cysts. Focusing on whiteheads as a type of acne, it develops when sebum is clogged under your skin to form white spots under eyes.
- Seborrhea is similar to eczema and is an underlying skin condition that can promote the formation of chalazia on the eyes.
- Rosacea is characterized by chronic red spots on the skin of the face. However, it can affect the meibomian gland to form white spots under eyes.
- Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelid that can interfere with a meibomian gland to form Chalazion.
- Conjunctivitis besides turning the color of your eye from normal to pink, it can also affect meibomian glands to swell and develop white spots under eyes.
4. Syringoma
Syringoma is another skin condition that can cause white spots under eyes. Syringomas are benign tumors of merocrine sweat ducts on the eyelids, armpits, groin, chest, neck and lower abdomen. Tumors of syringoma cannot develop into cancerous condition. Syringoma dots usually range in color from yellow to whitish or can take the color of your skin.
This condition is rare in children but is a common skin problem that affects individuals at adolescent and adult stages. Basing on gender, the condition often occurs in women than in men.in addition, familial syringoma can be passed genetically in a certain family that has the traits of white spots under eyes.
5. Acne or a pimple on eyelid
Whiteheads are the type of acnes that can result to white spots under eyes. Acne is known to be a common skin condition that usually affects individuals at puberty stage. Generally, whiteheads can affect your face including eyelids.
Other types of acne like pimple cyst under the skin can be infected by bacteria and filled with pus which can look like white dots on skin.
6. Oily makeups
Some cosmetics products that are made up of oil can clog the pores of your skin hence sebum accumulates under the skin to form white spots under eyes, on the nose and other parts of the face. Continuous use of oily makeup can encourage other skin condition to appear. For instance Chalazion and milia can develop on your face due to oily make-ups.
7. UV rays or Sun damage and Actinic Keratosis
Actinic keratosis is a type of growth that can develop on the skin due to sun exposure. Â This condition can result in the bumpy skin on face, neck, scalp, and on shoulders. They can as well form white spots under eyes.
Actinic keratosis is a common skin condition to individuals with advanced age. These means as you age and get exposed to sunlight, the more you develop this condition on your skin. The condition is rare in infants and toddler.
According to dermatologists, actinic keratosis is associated with skin cancer. This means that they are pre-cancerous bumps that can advance to skin cancer.People with this condition usually develop skin cancer if the condition is not diagnosed by doctors.
8. Skin cancer
Skin cancer is among serious skin conditions that can cause white spots under eyes and on other parts of the skin. Skin cancer can result in various shapes and sizes of bumps on the skin. Spots that develop from skin cancer are not always white but also can be pink, red or brown in color.
Similar to actinic keratosis, skin cancer can develop due to sun damage due to harmful UV rays that can result in the growth of skin tumors. Skin cancer can develop into a chronic condition if not treated on time. It is advisable to go for treatment by visiting your doctor who might help you to survive.
White Spots Under Eyes
The development of strange spots or dots on your face is a clear sign of having skin problems. White dots under eyes are one of the skin conditions that can be a nuisance to you. Some of these white spots under your eyes can be either benign or harmful.
For the case of having benign white spots under eyes, it can be harmless to you but they might be a major problem when it comes to beauty. Harmless dots on your face can be bothersome especially when they don’t go away. Despite having harmless white spots on your face, they can easily embarrass you to your friends or relatives hence can lower your self-esteem.
Example of benign conditions that can cause white spots under eyes includes milia, xanthelasma, chalazia, and syringoma. These conditions cannot advance into a serious health problem. However, they can make you feel a discomfort on the face.
Occasionally, you can develop white spots under eyes that can advance into a serious health condition. For instance, actinic keratosis and skin cancer are known conditions that can result to white dots on the skin which can hurt you through irritation or pain. Skin cancer can cause bumps on the skin that can bleed easily and cause a lot of pain to you. When you observe strange signs of having white spots on your face, visit your dermatologist for treatment.
White Spots around Eyes
What are these white spots around eyes? These can be a common question that many people ask themselves when they observe strange white dots around their eyes. White spots around the eyes can appear on upper or lower eyelids. The back of your eyelid and skin surface around eyebrows can also be affected by white bumps.
White spots around your eyes can develop from the causes that we have already elaborated. However other skin conditions can lead to white spots around the eyes.
These conditions include:
- Vitiligo is a skin disorder that causes depigmentation of skin color hence white spots and patches develop around eyes.
- Pityriasis Alba is one of the eczema conditions that have a consequence of white round spot, dots or patches on the face of young adults and children. These conditions usually result to white spots under eyes.
- Tinea versicolor is a fungal infection that caused by an overgrowth of yeast on the skin to develop a white dots. Depending on your skin tone, you can have pink or brown spots but white spots are common.
Treatment for White Spots Under Eyes
White spots under your eyes can be treated using different methods according to their causes. For the case of having mild skin conditions that are benign like milia and acne, you can use home remedies. However, medical treatments can be used in a serious skin condition that forms white spots around your eyes.
Example of skin conditions that lead to white spots under eyes and require medical treatment includes:
- Skin cancer
- Seborrhea
- Rosacea
- Vitiligo
You can visit a recommended health provider to help you to remove white spots under eyes. Physical examination can be done by your doctor to determine the exact causes of white spots under eyes. Your blood sample can be taken to the laboratory to be tested on the suspected underlying conditions that might cause white spots under your eyes.
From the laboratory results, your doctor will develop a diagnosis plan to help you get rid of white spots around your eyes. Your doctor will decide the appropriated method to use in order to remove white spots on your face.
Your doctor might use the following method to treat white spots on your face:
- For milium cysts, your doctor can use sterile needle to remove the content of the cyst
- For skin cancer, appropriate cancer therapy will be used for example laser treatment
- Syringoma and xanthelasma, chemical peeling method can be employed
- Topical creams can be used for white acnes and pimples.
Home Remedies for White Spots Under Eyes
You can use the following home remedies to get rid of white spots under the eyes.
1. Honey
You can use honey as a home remedy for mild white spots on the skin of the face. Raw honey is known to have medicinal properties that help you to remove white spots under eyes. In addition, honey has natural ingredients that can help to keep your skin moistened. Raw honey also has the ability to reduce cholesterol deposit on your skin to escape problems like milia and xanthelasma.
How to use:
- Get one teaspoon of the honey and mix with equal amount of jojoba oil.
- Clean your face with warm water and wipe it using a towel
- Using your clean hands, apply the mixture on the affected area under your eyes
- Allow it to stay on your skin for 10 minutes before rinsing your it with cold water
- Repeat the treatment three times per day until white spots under your eyes go away
2. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera can be used to treat white spots under eyes caused by milia, xanthelasma, and acne. The herb has antioxidant properties. It has vitamin C and E that can help to remove cholesterol deposit on the skin surface. It has also anti-inflammatory properties that help to relieve swollen meibomian glands on the eyelids and also help to heal chalazia.
How to use it:
- Get Aloe Vera gel and apply on the affected area of the skin that has white spots under eyes.
- Allow to the gel to stay on your skin for about 12 hours.
- Apply the gel before and after the bed
- Repeat the same procedure until whites spots under your eyes fade away
3. Castor oil
You can use castor oil as a home remedy to get rid of white spots under eyes. Castor oil has medicinal values that can help to reduce and prevent oil disorders on the skin like xanthelasma. The oil has an antibacterial ability that can help to reduce bacterial infection on the skin that can cause inflammation of meibomian glands.
How to use:
- Get small amount of castor oil and apply it on the affect skin part around your eyes
- Using your hands, massage the affected area of your skin to spread the oil
- Alternatively, mix the castor oil with olive oil for best results
- Repeat the application two times per day for several days until your skin improves
4. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is the best home remedy to get rid of white spots under eyes that develop from xanthelasma. Apple cider vinegar has acetic acid that can reduce cholesterol deposit on your skin. It can also help to treat milia on the skin.
How to use:
- Get 1/4 glass of apple cider vinegar and soak cotton ball in it
- Apply it on the affected parts of the skin
- Allow it to stay on your skin for 30 minutes before cleaning your skin with warm water
- Repeat the treatment two times per day until white spots under eyes go away
5. Garlic
Garlic has enzymes that can help to reduce oily bumps on the skin. You can use garlic at home to remove milia and xanthelasma on your skin. The enzymes in the garlic can also reduce white spots under eyes caused by acnes.
How to use:
- Crush a clove of garlic to create a paste
- Using your finger, apply the paste on the affected area under your eyes
- Ensure the paste does not enter into your eyes because it can cause a lot of irritation
- Allow the garlic paste to stay on your skin for 20 minutes
- Rinse your skin using warm water
- Repeat the treatment three times per day until white bumps under your eyes go away.
When to See a Doctor over White Spots Under Eyes
You can see a doctor over white spots under eyes when you experience the following conditions that include:
- When white spots under your eyes affect the vision function of the eyes
- When white bumps around your eyes are painful and they cause a discomfort
- If white dots are spreading on the whole face to threaten your beauty
- If white spots under eyes fail to respond to home remedies
- When the bumps on your face are hard and they can easily bleed
Hard bumps that can easily bleed can be a sign of cancerous condition on your skin. it is important to consult your doctor to examine strange spots on your skin so that he/she can help you to diagnose the condition.
Sources and References
- Signs and symptoms of white spots under eyes: http://www.healthhype.com/cholesterol-deposits-on-under-around-eyes-eyelids-pictures.html
- Cause of white spots under the eyes: https://www.nova100.com.au/best-web/reason-we-get-those-white-spots-our-skin-near-our-eyes
- Milia under eyes: https://cosmeticscop.com/2016/08/22/milia-under-the-eyes-causes-solutions/
- Cholesterol deposit under eyes or xanthelasma under eyes: http://www.healthline.com/health/cholesterol-deposits-in-eye#overview1
- Syringoma: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syringoma
- Skin cancer: http://www.medicinenet.com/skin_cancer_overview/article.htm
- White spots under eyes: http://www.newhealthadvisor.com/White-Bumps-Under-Eyes.html
- White spots around eyes: https://cosmeticscop.com/2016/08/22/milia-under-the-eyes-causes-solutions/
- Treatment of white spots under eyes: https://www.realself.com/question/best-way-get-rid-milia
- Home remedies for white spots under the eyes: http://www.searchhomeremedy.com/7-home-remedies-to-remove-cholesterol-deposits-around-eyes/