Milia are tiny white bumps that may seem like acne around their eyes, but it’s something that is very common for babies, but adults get it too. These are keratin-filled, white cysts that look like raised bumps and are usually clumped in groups and can appear around the eyes, nose, and cheeks. Milia often occur due to a buildup of dead skin and dirt in the pores of your skin and are usually painless, but may cause discomfort. Milia also frequently occur on newborns and is also known as “baby acne.”
One of the most annoying places that milia can tend to occur is around the eye, whether it is on the eyelid, on the eyelash or directly underneath the eye. This is due to the buildup of dead skin, bacteria, and oil and is more frequent in people who wear makeup. Old or cheap makeup like mascara, eyeliner or face makeup like primers, concealers, and foundations can cause a buildup of bacteria, resulting in white bumps on your lash and water line.
Milia usually goes away on its own, the bumps on the lash line can sometimes be mildly painful or uncomfortable. If you are uncomfortable with your milia, there are some ways to treat and remove milia:
Steam Facial & Sugar Scrub
This technique will open your pores and allow for o the optimal deep cleansing of the skin where the milia occur. First, soak a towel in hot water or pour hot water into a bowl. Place the towel over your face, or over the bowl of hot water for a few minutes. When you are done doing the steam facial, use a mixture of two parts of granulated sugar to one part of freshly squeezed lemon juice and one part of olive oil. Carefully and lightly exfoliate the affected area and leave for 10-15 minutes and rinse.