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A pimple under the eye

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
 
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A pimple under the eye is not only a cosmetic defect, but also a sign of problems in the body. Let's consider the main causes of pimples under the eyes, as well as their types, diagnostic methods and treatment.

The most common problem that can occur in a child, a teenager or an adult is acne. At any age and regardless of the location, they only bring discomfort. Particularly painful are acne that appears in places that are not typical for them: near the eyes, in the mouth, at the corners of the lips, on the tongue. Such a cosmetic defect can be a signal from the body about some disease and pathology, so diagnostics and properly selected treatment are required.

Most often, acne appears in people with diseases of the adrenal glands and kidneys. A cosmetic defect can occur as a result of excess sebum and improper skin care. In any case, when it appears, you must seek medical help; trying to squeeze out a pimple on your own is strictly prohibited, since there is a high probability of infection.

Let's look at the main neoplasms that most often appear under the eyes:

  • Barley is an infectious and inflammatory formation. The pimple is quite dense, forms on the upper eyelid or under the lower eyelid, causes swelling and redness of the eye. Without timely treatment and with reduced protective properties of the immune system, purulent abscesses and chalazion can form. Due to untimely treatment by a doctor, treatment is carried out by surgical methods.
  • Xanthelasma is a small, yellow, flat growth that appears both in the upper eyelid and under the eye. The growths can be single or multiple, and increase in size over time. Such "pimples" appear in people with liver disease, lipid metabolism disorders, and high cholesterol in the blood.
  • Chalazion is a dense, round nodular formation. It appears due to the accumulation of secretory fluid due to blockage of the sebaceous duct, ineffective treatment of barley, or when an infection gets into the eye.

In addition to the above-mentioned neoplasms, pimples under the eye may turn out to be cysts that require special treatment. If any formation appears in the eye area, you must seek medical help. An ophthalmologist will conduct diagnostics, determine the causes of the rash and prescribe effective treatment.

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Causes of pimple under the eye

The causes of a pimple under the eye depend on its type. So, there are painless white rashes, red ones, large suppurations, small pimples and others. But in some cases, a pimple under the eye is a stye. Stye looks very much like a pimple, which without proper treatment ripens, increases in size and causes not only cosmetic inconvenience, but also painful sensations. Stye appears due to inflammation of the hair follicle (when an infection gets into it). Its main difference from other rashes is its color. At an early stage, stye has a reddish color, and after a while a yellowish purulent formation appears on it.

  • Small pimples under the eyes appear as a result of an allergic reaction to cosmetics - creams, gels or lotions for washing. Mechanical damage to the skin with improper care causes parasitic and fungal infections, small rashes and pimples appear under the eyes.
  • White pimples under the eyes are popularly called "millets". The main reason for their appearance is diseases of internal organs or external pollutants. In any case, a pimple under the eye does not appear just like that. The reason for its appearance can be bad habits, abuse of spicy and salty foods, alcohol or coffee. Because of this, excess fluid remains in the body longer than normal and accumulates under the skin, narrowing the channels that are designed for the natural removal of sebum. This leads to clogged pores and the formation of acne and pimples under the eyes.
  • Inflammatory or vesicular rashes under the eyes indicate demodicosis. The disease appears due to the mite-mite, which is located in the sebaceous glands of the skin and hair follicles around the eyelids. Often the disease is dormant and manifests itself in disorders of the sebaceous glands, diseases of the nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, liver, endocrine system. Pimples worsen in the autumn and spring.

To eliminate this problem, you need to see a dermatologist, surgeon and cosmetologist. A mandatory procedure is cleansing the body and diagnosing the digestive organs, which have been accumulating toxins for years. Do not forget about the allergic cause of rashes under the eyes. Therefore, it would not be superfluous to visit an allergist, give up bad habits and review your diet.

Symptoms of a pimple under the eye

Symptoms of a pimple under the eye are most often associated with cosmetic discomfort. That is, a person may not experience unpleasant sensations, pain when blinking or trying to palpate the rash.

  • For example, white painless pimples of milia (miliumomas) appear in small groups of several at once, which is quite noticeable on clean skin. Therefore, they must be treated by a cosmetologist, but in no case should you try to remove them yourself.
  • If a painful lump appears under the eye, which when ripe resembles a red pimple, it may be a stye or a more dangerous disease - chalazion. Under the skin of the lower eyelid in the thickness of the cartilage, a nodule is formed, not fused with the skin and painless when palpated. As it grows, the pimple increases in size, forms a swelling and a visible cosmetic problem. In addition, lacrimation and severe itching may occur. Without timely diagnosis and proper treatment, the disease leads to distortion of vision.
  • If a stye forms under the eye, its symptoms look like this: local reddening of the skin, throbbing pain, a reddish bump on the skin with a yellow purulent tip. There may be a rise in temperature, headaches, swelling and inflammation of the skin around the tumor. If such symptoms appear, you must immediately seek medical help.
  • Allergic reactions to cosmetics cause a reddish rash under the eyes, which causes watery eyes and itching. Small pimples appear due to rubbing the eyes with dirty hands, which is fraught with infection and severe allergic reactions.

White pimple under the eye

A white pimple under the eye is called a milium or a millet. This is a whitehead or, more simply, a closed pore clogged with sebum. Miliumomas do not cause pain, but spoil the appearance. The skin around the eyes is very thin and sensitive, nerve endings are close to it. Such pimples do not have contact with the surface, so they do not become inflamed and remain white for a long time. The inflammatory process begins only when microbes enter the pore. But, despite the safety of this kind of rash, all pimples that appear in the eye area require a doctor's consultation. The doctor will help to exclude inflammatory, infectious and viral processes of rashes.

A white pimple under the eye most often appears in people with oily skin. This type of skin is prone to inflammatory processes, various rashes and defects. This occurs due to the active work of the sebaceous glands, which produce large amounts of subcutaneous fat, which the ducts do not have time to pass to the surface of the skin. This leads to blockage of the hair follicles, fat accumulates under a thick crust of skin and turns into suppuration, that is, acne.

White pimples under the eyes can signal that there is excess cholesterol in the body and the skin is reacting to this. Self-treatment of milia is not recommended, you need to undergo an examination at a clinic and, if necessary, seek help from cosmetologists. Laser techniques, mechanical removal and electrocoagulation are used to remove milia. Preventive procedures are mandatory: regular skin cleansing, careful selection of cosmetics and proper nutrition.

Red pimple under the eye

A red pimple under the eye appears as a result of inflammatory processes in the body. Most often, red pimples are chalazion, that is, inflammation of the eyelid gland. The disease develops due to blockage of the excretory duct and accumulation of secretion in it. In ophthalmology, chalazion is a fairly common problem, accounting for about 8% of all eyelid pathologies. The disease occurs at any age, but most often affects mature patients aged 30-50 years.

  • A red pimple can form against the background of barley, especially with incomplete treatment of its relapses. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, oily skin, seborrhea, dysbacteriosis, rosacea and a number of other diseases contribute to the development of chalazion. Frequent colds, hypothermia and stress, poor personal hygiene and eye infections also contribute to the development of rashes under the eyes.
  • With chalazion, a round nodular formation appears under the skin of the upper or lower eyelid. The pimple grows very slowly and reaches a size of 5-7 mm. The disease is accompanied by lacrimation and itching. As it grows, the neoplasm presses on the cornea, causing astigmatism.
  • Without timely diagnosis and treatment, an unopened chalazion transforms into a cystic formation with mucous contents. When suppuration occurs, inflammatory symptoms appear: swelling, redness of the skin, throbbing headaches and pain in the eye socket, and an increase in body temperature.

Conservative methods are used for treatment: instillations with disinfectant eye drops, dry heat compresses. It is contraindicated to warm up a red pimple under the eye, as this contributes to the spread of inflammation to nearby tissues, the development of phlegmon or abscess. In especially advanced cases, surgical removal with anesthesia or laser treatment is performed. The prognosis of the disease depends entirely on the effectiveness of the treatment. If the capsule of the neoplasm is not completely removed, this will lead to relapses with complications.

The pimple under the eye is swollen

A swollen pimple under the eye is a problem that both adults and children face. Swelling may occur due to attempts to remove the neoplasm on your own or due to improper treatment. Infectious lesions, an exacerbated inflammatory process, and allergies can also lead to swelling of the neoplasm. In any case, if swelling appears on the face, and especially under the eye, you must seek medical help.

For emergency removal of the tumor, it is recommended to try compresses from herbal decoctions, ointments or pharmacy drops. It would not be superfluous to use anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics. Attempts to squeeze out the pimple on your own can lead to eye swollenness, blood poisoning and circulatory disorders.

Small pimples under the eyes

Small pimples under the eyes appear due to allergic reactions to skin care products, food and any other external irritants. Small rashes often act as a signal from the body about problems with the gastrointestinal tract or liver. In this case, to treat rashes, it is necessary to review the diet, limit the consumption of spicy and fatty foods. An ultrasound examination would not be superfluous to exclude gallstones. Since with this disease, many patients develop a small rash under the eyes.

If the pimples are white and do not cause painful sensations, then most likely these are milia, which appear due to clogged pores. If the rash is red, then this indicates that it is allergic, inflammatory or infectious. In this case, you need to see a dermatologist to find out the cause of the rash and prepare a treatment.

Big pimple under the eye

A large pimple under the eye can be either an abscess due to inflammatory processes in the body, a stye or a simple lipoma. Particular attention should be paid to the appearance of the formation. If the pimple is white and does not cause discomfort when trying to palpate, then it is a millet or lipoma. To remove it, you need to contact a cosmetologist, but in no case try to squeeze it out yourself.

If the pimple is red, inflamed or has a purulent head, then when trying to palpate it, painful sensations appear. Such neoplasms appear due to inflammatory or infectious processes in the body. In rare cases, large pimples appear due to allergies. To treat it, you need to see a dermatologist or surgeon. The doctor will prescribe ointments for faster maturation or perform surgical removal of the pimple.

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Acne under the eyes of a child

Acne under the eyes of a child usually appears due to a violation of the daily routine and improper nutrition. Rashes are extremely rare viral skin diseases. Acne can appear from an insect bite, an allergic reaction or infection.

Very often, minor rashes under the eyes appear in babies who have just started walking or crawling. Due to contact with the outside world and attempts to scratch their eyes with dirty or slobbery hands, a rash appears. If the rash appears as a result of an inflammatory process, then the child has a fever, general weakness and malaise. In any case, it is necessary to seek medical help.

Taking into account the child's age, the pediatrician will select an anti-allergy product, drops or ointment that will help remove acne. If the acne is accompanied by swelling, then sometimes this is a sign of hormonal imbalances, kidney or liver disease. In this case, the child will undergo a comprehensive examination and treatment, since drops and ointments alone will not do.

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Diagnosis of a pimple under the eye

Diagnosis of a pimple under the eye is carried out by an ophthalmologist, surgeon or dermatologist. The doctor pays attention to the change in the skin and eyelids. Let's consider the main methods used to diagnose neoplasms in the eye area.

  • Ophthalmoscopy and biomicroscopy are a thorough examination of the fundus to determine the condition of the vessels and nerve endings.
  • Visometry and computer perimetry are performed to determine visual acuity. In some cases, formations under the eyes cause swelling and loss of visual acuity.
  • Retinotomography – allows to determine the condition of the optic nerves and surrounding tissues. Along with this method, tonography is performed, that is, measuring intraocular pressure.

In most cases, patients undergo laboratory diagnostics. If the pimples are large or cover a significant part of the skin under the eyes, a biopsy with a histological neoplasm is performed. This is due to the fact that some neoplasms have a risk of degenerating into malignant tumors. In addition, the patient must undergo an examination by a dermatologist, endocrinologist, therapist and oncologist.

Treatment for pimple under eye

Treatment of a pimple under the eye depends on the cause of its appearance. It is best to seek medical help, undergo a comprehensive examination of the body, check the condition of the kidneys, improve nutrition and start taking vitamins. Treatment also depends on the results of diagnostics: the size of the pimple, symptoms, stage and histological structure. If the general health condition does not cause concern, then you can begin therapy that will help remove the pimple.

  • At an early stage, patients are prescribed conservative therapy: eye drops, injections into the formation, ointments and various physiotherapy methods. For each patient, medications are selected - antibacterial and antiviral drugs.
  • If there is no positive effect, surgical treatment may be performed. The doctor removes the pimple and its contents using a small incision in the skin. The operation is performed under local anesthesia.
  • Traditional methods of treatment can be used to remove a common pimple under the eye. The pimple is lubricated with a solution of brilliant green a couple of times a day. But this must be done very carefully, after closing the eye. Compresses from chamomile and St. John's wort infusion also have a therapeutic effect. It is forbidden to use warming, as this will intensify the inflammatory process. Pimples cannot be punctured, as this can lead to blood poisoning and infection of the brain.

A pimple under the eye requires careful handling, do not try to squeeze it out yourself or apply cosmetics to the place where it appears, as this can increase the allergic reaction and inflammation. The appearance of a pimple under the eye is a reason to get rid of bad habits and start leading a healthy lifestyle.

How to remove pimples under the eyes?

How to remove pimples under the eyes, what methods of removing formations exist and how effective are they. Let's consider the main methods of removing pimples under the eyes. But first of all, it is worth remembering that only a qualified doctor should do this.

Mechanical method

Mechanical removal of pimples is the simplest and cheapest method. The procedure is performed by a cosmetologist and consists of complete disinfection of the skin and removal of the pimple using a sterile needle. The cosmetologist pierces the pimple and removes its contents. It is contraindicated to perform this procedure on your own, as there is a risk of infection, which will provoke an inflammatory process. In addition, pimples can be small in size, and attempts to remove them will lead to damage to other layers of the skin.

After mechanical removal, small wounds remain on the skin, which quickly disappear with proper care. During one session, a cosmetologist removes no more than 10 pimples. This allows not to injure the skin too much and not to disrupt the functioning of the sebaceous glands. To prevent the appearance of pimples, the skin must be thoroughly cleaned, using high-quality products suitable for your skin type.

Electrocoagulation

A popular method for removing white pimples on the face, eyes and under the eyes. The treatment is based on the process of cauterizing the skin with alternating high-frequency electric current. After such a procedure, a crust remains on the skin, which quickly disappears. Antiseptic treatment of the skin will not be superfluous.

Curettage

The treatment method is based on scraping the pimple with a curette. A curette is a cosmetic tool that resembles a spoon. This treatment is less effective than the previous ones, since after removing the pimples, long-lasting scars remain on the skin.

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Laser coagulation

Another popular but expensive method of removing acne. The affected area of skin is treated with laser coagulation without the use of electric current. After this procedure, a crust remains on the skin, which comes off in 10-14 days.

More information of the treatment

Prevention of pimple under the eye

Prevention of pimples under the eye begins with proper skin care. It is necessary to cleanse the skin to prevent the formation of subcutaneous fat plugs that clog pores. It is recommended to carry out systematic deep cleansing of the superficial layers of the dermis. A balanced healthy diet, avoiding spicy and fatty foods, smoking and alcohol are prevention methods that allow you to keep your skin clean and beautiful.

But in some cases, the appearance of pimples under the eyes is associated with hormonal or endocrine disorders. In this case, a full examination of the body is required to determine the cause of formation.

Pimple under eye prognosis

The prognosis of a pimple under the eye largely depends on the cause of its appearance, the patient's age, skin type and other characteristics of the body. The prognosis is significantly worsened if the integrity of the abscess is violated or attempts are made to remove the pimple on your own (pus does not always come out, its particles get on the internal vessels under the skin). In this case, the infection contained in the pimple can easily get on the subcutaneous tissue of the eye socket or eyelids. The inflammation will pass into the cranial cavity and spread to the brain.

Of course, a pimple under the eye is not only an unpleasant cosmetic defect, but also a painful formation. All pimples on the face and around the eyes require medical care and treatment. Comprehensive skin care, proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle are the key to healthy and radiant skin.

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