Dear Alice!
I always have at least one or two white spots on my eyelids. They don't hurt, but people do stare at them. They eventually fall off and reappear in other places. I've been told they are calcium deposits and/or sweat bumbs. Help me out with a treatment and let me know if they are connected to any disease.
Thanks,
Suzanne
Dear Suzanne,
What you describe could be a condition called milia, tiny cysts or whiteheads filled with a protein material that appear on the face and eyelids. Milia are common, can recur if one's prone to them, and seem to run in some families. Sometimes they develop in areas of the skin that have been traumatized, due to eyelid surgery, burns (including severe sunburn), radiation therapy, heavy use of steroid creams, or other skin problems. They aren't known to be a sign of any serious underlying disease, however.
If they aren't bothering you, they can usually just be left alone. Sometimes they will fall off more quickly if you hold a warm, wet washcloth to them for several minutes, several times a day. However tempting, don't try to pick at them or remove them yourself, the way you might with a blackhead, because they can become infected and may cause scarring. Your health care provider or a dermatologist who specializes in skin conditions can confirm that these are milia, and may suggest their removal. The provider may even be able to do this procedure in the office.
- Alice
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What are these white spots around my eyes?
