eTopical Precious Finds
Do you have a white bump on eyelid? What causes small white bumps on the upper eyelid? If you have had the little white spots on your lower and upper lids for months, here’s how to get rid of bumps on eyelid rim fast.
What Causes White Bumps on Eyelids?
Eyelid bumps can be worrisome especially given the role played by the eyes; who would not be scared to think about loss of vision? The question then is, “what causes white bumps on eyelids?”
Well there are numerous possible causes of those pesky white eyelid bumps including:
- Blocking of oil glands that are found in abundance on the eyelids to provide adequate lubrication
- Poor sloughing off of dead skin cells. This often leads to formation of milia in infants but adults may as well be affected.
- Bacterial infection: Staphylococcus bacteria are to blame in most cases.
Little, Tiny or Small 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 white bumps on the 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 eyelid bumps 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.
The following medical conditions may be the underlying causes of those eyelid bumps that you wish away with all your heart:
Eye Stye: A stye, or sty if you like, is an infection of the oil glands that are found in plenty in the eyelids. Staphylococcus bacteria are usually the culprits but any other genus of bacteria may cause a sty as the Family Doctor website points out.
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).
Poor hygiene e.g. rubbing your eyes with unclean hands can also cause bacterial infection of the eyelids leading to sty.
Chalazion: A chalazion results when an oil gland known as meibomian gland gets clogged or swollen. Meibomian gland is a sebaceous gland that keeps the eyelashes moisturized by producing a sticky substance but it often gets its ducts blocked making it to get clogged. When that happens, a white bump develops as a response to the inflammation.
A chalazion begins as a small painful bump but the pain reduces and finally ceases as the bump continues to increase in size.
A notable difference between a sty and a chalazion is the fact that a sty forms as result of bacterial infection of an oil gland but a chalazion forms as a result of a clogged or swollen oil gland. A chalazion also tends to grow relatively larger, in some cases attaining the size of a pea.
When a chalazion grows too large as to cause a distortion of the structure of the cornea, it may cause blurred vision.
Milia: This condition is more common in newborns and children but may as well affect the adult population. Milia result when the skin is not able to get rid of dead skin cells as well as it should be. As a result, these skin cells get trapped beneath the skin, resulting in white bumps on the eyelids, cheeks, or nose.
The bumps are usually very small and solid, and are not associated with a rash unlike acne bumps which can easily be confused with them.
In adults, milia are often triggered by severe sun damage and eyelid trauma.
White Bump inside Eyelid
We receive emails and comments from readers concerned about white bumps inside their eyelids – as opposed to the outside of the eyelid – every now and then.
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 [see the previous section for more details].
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.
White Bump on Eyelid for Months
Eyelid bumps that stay for months warrant the attention of a dermatologist. Of course some causes of eyelid bumps e.g. milia may take a few months to clear completely, but it is always advisable to stay on the safe side by having a dermatologist examine a bump that sticks around for too long just to rule out any serious medical conditions like skin cancer.
How to Get Rid of White Bumps on Eyelids
I know you are eager to see those eyelid bumps gone and have been eagerly waiting for this part. So, without further ado, here is how to get rid of white bumps on eyelids.
- 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
Now you know the causes of white bump on eyelid and how to get rid of those small white papules around eyes. If you are not sure how to get rid of the white bumps under your eyes, it is important to see a doctor first for help.
