What are these whitish lumpy things on my under eyes and how do I get rid of them? (Photo)

Question

I keep getting more and more of these hard lumps on my under eyes. They are actually beginning to form on my upper eyelids as well!At 39 wearing eye makeup is impossible anymore since it looks so bad! I thought for the longest time they were all over milia but after watching some milia removal videos I realized they weren't. They feel like something could come out but after trying different methods nothing ever does. What are they? How can I get rid of these and prevent them returning?

Ramandeep Sidhu, MD · Answer

These area keratin deposits under the eye. This is due to a build up of dead skin cells being trapped under the skin. Lightly exfoliating with warm wash cloths and even using a salicylic acid or retinol can help. Wash your face twice a day with your cleanser and do not put your face moisturizer under your eyes as this can clog pores as well. Instead opt for an eye gel and use this twice a day. The skin under our eyes is way more delicate than the rest of our skin. Our normal face moisturizers can be too thick for this area and clog pores.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Fractional laser is an amazing and highly effective treatment in our office. We use the laser treatment to help with acne scars, large pores, fine wrinkles, tissue collagen loss, scars, sebaceous hyperplasia, active acne, and for brightening dark pigmentation. Although there are very strong fractional lasers such as CO2 laser, we use lighter treatments for corrective skincare and maintenance of results. Our Thulium fractional laser, clear and brilliant laser, and Ultra Thulium laser are excellent options in our clinic. We also perform CO2 fractional and erbium depending on skin tone and tolerance for downtime. Patients do have to use a Melarase cream before and after treatment to help further reduce pigmentation after laser.  Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads can seriously improve surface sun damage and UV related pigmentation. Dark spots can improve with these treatments. I recommend fractional laser for incisional scars as well, especially after plastic surgery.  
Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Nima Shemirani, MD · Answer

Hi @. Thank you for sharing your photos. These area keratin deposits under the eye, which is due to a build up of dead skin cells being trapped under the skin. I would recommend using a Retinol twice a week and Salicylic Acid.

Best of luck,

Dr. Nima

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

The eye area needs significant combinations to get improvement. Lasers like erbium, co2, halo, profractional/contour, or Fraxel can all be used to build collagen long term. Plasma pen is a newer less invasive option but will take many treatments and require proper skincare. Plasma Pen is focused electrical plasma energy to tighten skin, producing small columns of energy just above the skin, allowing the skin to tighten to help improve wrinkles. This area will have 3-5 days of small “dots” that will then scab and peel, then the skin will tighter and brighter after. Numerous treatments are needed over lasers where only one or two give a bigger result, but more downtime. After plasma pen you NEED peels 2 weeks like later Cosmelan, enlighten or aerify, see emeragecosmetics (link). At home derma rolling should be started weekly even after plasma pen or lasers to further increase collagen, see emeragecosmetics AERIFY x anteagemd stem cell ampules. To properly heal you need light Stim red LED, EmerageSkin refit face, refit eye; AnteageMD serum, silagen silicone gel, jan Marini bioshield, EmerageSkin enzymatic polish, and EmerageSkin hyla b and AOX, and Sente dermal repair. Otherwise there is EXTREME risk of pigmentation issues and “dots” in the treatment area. at home peels like cosmelan, enlighten and aerify along with dermarolling (AERIFY emerageskin roller with Anteage MD ampules) should be started now regardless for antiaging, sun damage, and wrinkle prevention. There are many things you can do to treat under eye hollows and dark circles. A surgical option to remove skin and/or fat will such as eyelid blepharoplasty with or without fat pad repositioning (if doing lower eyelid surgery) will be the best long term. There are many things you can do to treat under eye hollows and dark circles without surgery. Non invasive less downtime options such as fillers, lasers, microneedling/PRP, cosmelan peels, and microneedling RF like Fractora, PiXel8 or morpheus can all help give some improvement. Accutite can often be used or stronger lasers like erbium or co2 spot treatment can tighten the skin and give very quick improvement in wrinkles and texture. I suggest you get a formal consultation to see what is best for you and your goals. Best, Dr. Emer.

What are these whitish lumpy things on my under eyes and how do I get rid of them? (Photo)

Answers (4)

Answer: Eye tighten, lifting; crepe skin: plasma pen, Thermage, threads, Botox, Fillers, Lasers (co2/erbium); emeragecosmetics roller

Answer: Eye tighten, lifting; crepe skin: plasma pen, Thermage, threads, Botox, Fillers, Lasers (co2/erbium); emeragecosmetics roller

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Skin Rejuvenation

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

What are these whitish lumpy things on my under eyes and how do I get rid of them? (Photo)

Answers (4)

Answer: Eye tighten, lifting; crepe skin: plasma pen, Thermage, threads, Botox, Fillers, Lasers (co2/erbium); emeragecosmetics roller

Answer: Eye tighten, lifting; crepe skin: plasma pen, Thermage, threads, Botox, Fillers, Lasers (co2/erbium); emeragecosmetics roller

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Skin Rejuvenation

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.