Medical expert of the article
New publications
Pimples under the eye
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Pimple under the eye is not only a cosmetic defect, but also a sign of abnormalities in the functioning of the body. Consider the main causes of acne under the eyes, as well as their types, methods of diagnosis and treatment.
The most common trouble that can occur in a child, or a teenager or an adult - it's pimples. At any age and regardless of the location of the localization they bring only discomfort. Especially painful are acne that occurs in atypical places for them: near the eyes, in the mouth, on the corners of the lips, on the tongue. Such a cosmetic defect can be a signal of an organism about any disease and pathology, therefore diagnostics and properly selected treatment are required.
Most often, acne occurs in people with diseases of the adrenal gland and kidneys. A cosmetic defect can occur as a result of excess sebum and with improper skin care. In any case, when it appears, you need to seek medical help, it's strictly forbidden to try to squeeze out the pimple yourself, as the probability of infection is high.
Let's consider the basic neoplasms, which most often appear under the eyes:
- Barley - the formation of an infectious-inflammatory nature. Pimple is quite dense, formed 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, halyazion can form. Due to late treatment to the doctor, the treatment is carried out by surgical methods.
- Xantelasm is a yellow, flat new growth of a small size that appears both in the upper eyelid and under the eye. The adolescents can be single and multiple, with time increase in size. Such "pimples" appear in people with liver diseases, violations of fat metabolism and with increased cholesterol in the blood.
- Halyazion is a dense, nodular, circular formation. Appears due to the accumulation of secretory fluid due to blockage of the sebaceous duct, ineffective treatment of barley or in case of infection in the eye.
In addition to the above neoplasms, acne under the eye can be cysts that require special treatment. If any education is in the eye area, you need to seek medical help. The ophthalmologist will conduct the diagnosis, determine the cause of the rash and prescribe an effective treatment.
[1]
Causes of acne under the eye
The causes of acne under the eye depend on its kind. So, there are painless white rashes, red, large suppuration, small pimples and others. But in some cases, the pimple under the eye is barley. Barley looks very much like a pimple, which ripens without proper treatment, increases in size and delivers not only cosmetic inconveniences, but also painful sensations. Barley appears due to inflammation of the hair follicle (if it gets infected). Its main difference from other rashes is color. At an early stage, barley has a reddish color, and after a time, 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 lesions, under the eyes there are small rashes and pimples.
- White pimples under the eyes in the people called sycophants. The main cause of their appearance is diseases of internal organs or external pollutants. In any case, the pimple under the eye does not appear just like that. The cause of its appearance can be bad habits, abuse of spicy and salty foods, alcohol or coffee. Because of this, excess fluid is in the body longer than normal and accumulates under the skin, narrowing the channels that are designed for the natural withdrawal of sebum. This leads to clogging of the pores and the formation of acne eruptions and acne under the eyes.
- Eruption under the eyes of an inflammatory or bladder character indicates demodicosis. The disease appears due to tick-mites, which is located in the sebaceous glands of the skin and hair follicles around the eyelids. Often the disease is in a dormant state and manifests itself in the violation of the functions of the sebaceous glands, diseases of the nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, liver, endocrine system. Pimples are exacerbated in the autumn and spring periods.
To eliminate this problem, you need to contact a dermatologist, a surgeon and a cosmetologist. Obligatory procedure is purification of the body and diagnostics of digestive organs, which accumulate slag for years. Do not forget about the allergic cause of rashes under the eyes. Therefore, it would not be superfluous to go to an allergist, refuse harmful habits and revise the diet.
Symptoms of acne under the eye
Symptoms of acne under the eye, most often associated with cosmetic discomfort. That is, a person can not experience unpleasant sensations, pain with blinking or attempts to palpate rashes.
- For example, white, painless pimples of millet (milium) appear in small groups of several pieces at once, which is very noticeable on clean skin. Therefore, they must be treated by a cosmetologist, but, in no case, do not try to remove yourself.
- If under the eye appeared painful tubercle, which when maturing is similar to a red pimple, it can be barley or a more dangerous disease - halyazion. Under the skin of the lower eyelid, a nodule is formed in the thickness of the cartilage, not soldered to the skin and painless during palpation. As the growth increases, the pimple grows 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 under the eye barley is formed, then its symptoms look like this: local redness of the skin, throbbing pain, reddish bump on the skin with a yellow purulent tip. Possible fever, headaches, swelling and inflammation of the skin around the tumor. If you have this symptom, you should immediately seek medical help.
- When allergic reactions to cosmetics under the eyes appears reddish rash, which causes lacrimation and itching. Small pimples appear due to rubbing eyes with dirty hands, which is fraught with infection and severe allergic reactions.
White pimple under the eye
White pimple under the eye is called milium or prosyanka. This is a white eel or, more simply, a closed time covered with sebum. Miliumoma does not cause painful sensations, but spoil the appearance. The skin around the eyes is very thin and sensitive, close to the nerve endings. 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 germs come in time. But, despite the safety of this kind of rash, all the pimples that appear in the eye area require medical advice. The doctor will help to exclude the inflammatory, infectious and viral process of rashes.
White pimple under the eye often appears in the owners of oily skin. This type of skin is prone to inflammatory processes, various rashes and defects. This is due to the active work of the sebaceous glands, which produce in large quantities subcutaneous fat, which the ducts do not have time to pass to the surface of the skin. This leads to a blockage of the hair follicle, the fat is collected under a thick skin crust and turns into suppuration, that is, acne.
White acne under the eyes can signal that the body has excess cholesterol and the skin reacts to it. Do not recommend self-treatment milium, you need to undergo examination in the clinic and, if necessary, seek help from cosmetologists. For the removal of pothillers, laser techniques, mechanical removal and electrocoagulation are used. Obligatory are preventive procedures: regular cleansing of the skin, careful selection of cosmetics and proper nutrition.
Red pimple under the eye
Red pimple under the eye appears as a result of inflammatory processes in the body. Most often, red pimples are haljazion, that is, inflammation of the gland of the eyelid. The disease develops because of blockage of the output channel and accumulation of secret in it. In ophthalmology, halyazion is a fairly common problem, accounting for about 8% of all pathologies of the eyelids. The disease occurs at any age, but most often affects patients aged 30-50 years.
- Red pimples can form on the background of barley, especially when the treatment of its relapses is incomplete. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, oily skin, seborrhea, dysbiosis, rosacea and a number of other diseases, contribute to the development of chalazion. Frequent colds, hypothermia and stress, non-observance of personal hygiene and eye infections, also contribute to the development of rashes under the eyes.
- At haljazione under a skin of the top or lower eyelid there is a round nodular formation. Pimple grows very slowly and reaches a size of 5-7 mm. The disease is accompanied by lacrimation and itching. With growth, the neoplasm presses on the cornea, provoking astigmatism.
- Without timely diagnosis and treatment, not revealed cholazion is transformed into a cystic formation with mucous contents. When suppuration occurs inflammatory symptoms: swelling, redness of the skin, throbbing headaches and pain in the orbit, increasing body temperature.
For treatment conservative methods are used: instillations with disinfectant eye drops, dry thermal compresses. A red pimple under the eye is contraindicated to warm up, as this promotes the spread of inflammation to nearby tissues, the development of phlegmon or abscess. In particularly neglected 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, it will lead to relapses with complications.
Pimple under the eye
Pimple swelling under the eye - this problem is faced by both adults and children. Puffiness may appear due to attempts to remove the neoplasm on its own or because of improper treatment. Infectious disease, acute inflammation, allergies, can also lead to swelling of the tumor. In any case, with the appearance of swelling on the face, and especially under the eye, you need to seek medical help.
For emergency removal of the tumor it is recommended to try compresses from herbal decoctions, ointments or drug drops. It will not be superfluous to use anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics. Attempts to squeeze out a pimple on your own can lead to eye swelling, 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 stimuli. A small rash often acts as a signal to the body about problems with the gastrointestinal tract or liver. In this case, to treat rashes it is necessary to revise the diet, restrict the use of acute and fatty foods. It will not be superfluous to use ultrasound to exclude stones in the gallbladder. As with this disease many patients have a small rash under the eyes.
If the pimples are white and do not cause painful sensations, then most likely it is the milium that appears due to the clogging of pores. If the rash is red, then it speaks of its allergic, inflammatory or infectious nature. In this case, you need to contact a dermatologist to find out the cause of the rash and make up the treatment.
Big pimple under the eye
A large pimple under the eye can be as an abscess due to inflammatory processes in the body, barley or simple wen. Particular attention should be paid to the appearance of education. If the pimple is white and does not cause discomfort when trying to palpate, then it's a prosy or wen. To remove it, you need to contact a beautician, but do not try to squeeze it out yourself.
If the pimple is red, inflamed or with a purulent head, then painful sensations appear when trying to palpate it. Such neoplasms appear due to inflammatory or infectious processes in the body. In rare cases, large pimples appear with allergies. For his treatment, you need to contact a dermatologist or a surgeon. The doctor will prescribe the ointment for the fastest maturation or conduct a surgical removal of the pimple.
[2]
Acne under the eyes of a child
Acne under the eyes of a child, as a rule, appear due to disturbance of the daily regimen and malnutrition. Very rarely rashes are viral skin diseases. Pimples can appear from an insect bite, an allergic reaction, or an 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 the eyes with dirty or slobbery hands there is a rash. If the rash appeared as a result of the inflammatory process, then the child has a fever, general weakness and malaise. In any case, you need to seek medical help.
Taking into account the age of the child, the pediatrician will pick up an antiallergenic remedy, a drop or ointment that will help remove acne. If pimples are accompanied by puffiness, then sometimes this is a sign of hormonal failures, kidney or liver disease. In this case, the child is waiting for a comprehensive examination and treatment, since one can not do without drops and ointments.
[3]
Diagnosis of acne under the eye
Diagnosis of acne under the eye is carried out by an ophthalmologist, surgeon or dermatologist. The doctor pays attention to the modification of the skin and eyelids. Let's consider the basic methods used for diagnostics of neoplasms in the field of eyes.
- Ophthalmoscopy and biomicroscopy - a thorough examination of the fundus to determine the condition of blood vessels and nerve endings.
- Visometry and computer perimetry - conducted to determine visual acuity. In some cases, the formation under the eyes causes swelling and loss of visual acuity.
- Retinotomography - allows you to determine the state of the eye nerves and surrounding tissues. Along with this method, tonography is carried out, that is, measurement of 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 degeneration into malignant tumors. In addition, the patient must undergo a checkup with a dermatologist, endocrinologist, therapist and oncologist.
Treating acne under the eye
Treatment for acne 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 depends on the results of diagnosis: the size of acne, symptoms, stage and histological structure. If the general health is not a concern, then you can start therapy that will help remove the pimple.
- At an early stage, patients are prescribed conservative therapy: the use of eye drops, injections into the formation, ointments and various methods of physiotherapy. For each patient selected drugs - antibacterial and antiviral drugs.
- In the absence of a positive effect, surgical treatment is possible. The doctor removes the pimple and its contents with a small cut on the skin. The operation is performed under local anesthesia.
- Alternative therapies can be used to remove the usual acne under the eye. Pimples are greased a few times a day. But you need to do this very carefully, after closing your eyes. Compresses made of chamomile and St. John's wort also have a curative effect. It is forbidden to use warming, as this will increase the inflammatory process. Acne should not be pierced, as it can lead to infection of the blood and infection in the brain.
Pimple under the eye requires careful handling, do not try to squeeze it yourself or apply cosmetics to the place of its appearance, as this can increase the allergic reaction and inflammation. The appearance of a pimple under the eye is an excuse to get rid of bad habits and begin to lead a healthy lifestyle.
How to remove acne under the eyes?
How to remove acne under the eyes, what methods of removing formations exist and how effective they are. Consider the main ways to remove pimples under the eyes. But first of all, it is worth remembering that this should be done only by a qualified doctor.
Mechanical method
Mechanical removal of acne is the easiest and cheapest way. The procedure is performed by a cosmetologist and consists of complete disinfection of the skin and removal of the pimple with a sterile needle. The cosmetologist punctures the pimple and removes its contents. Independently to perform this procedure is contraindicated, since there is a risk of infection, which will provoke an inflammatory process. In addition, acne can be small in size, and attempts to remove them will damage other layers of the skin.
After mechanical removal, small wounds remain on the skin, which quickly disappear with proper care. In one session, the cosmetologist removes no more than 10 acne. This allows you not to severely injure the skin and not disrupt the functioning of the sebaceous glands. To prevent the appearance of acne, the skin should be thoroughly cleaned using quality and suitable for your skin type means.
Electrocoagulation
A popular method of removing white acne on the face, under the eyes and under the eyes. At the heart of the treatment is the process of cauterization of the skin with alternating high-frequency electric current. After such a procedure, a crust remains on the skin, which quickly passes. It is not superfluous to have an antiseptic skin treatment.
Curettage
The method of treatment is based on curettage of the pimple with the help of curette. Curette is a cosmetic tool reminiscent of a spoon. Such treatment is less effective than previous ones, since after removal of acne on the skin there are long healing scars.
[4]
Laser coagulation
Another popular, but expensive method of removing acne. The affected area of the skin is affected by laser coagulation without the use of electric current. After this procedure, the skin remains a crust, which descends after 10-14 days.
More information of the treatment
Prevention of acne under the eye
Prevention of acne under the eye begins with full-fledged skin care. It is necessary to clean the skin to prevent the formation of slugs of subcutaneous fat, which clog pores. It is recommended to perform systematic deep cleaning of the surface layers of the dermis. Balanced healthy diet, refusal from acute and fatty foods, smoking and alcohol are methods of prevention, allowing to keep the skin clean and beautiful.
But in some cases, the appearance of acne under the eyes is associated with hormonal or endocrine disorders. In this case, to determine the cause of education requires a full examination of the body.
Pimple for the eye
The prognosis of acne under the eye largely depends on the cause of its appearance, the age of the patient, the type of skin and other characteristics of the body. The prognosis significantly worsens if the integrity of the abscess is violated or attempts are made to remove the pimple (pus does not always come out, its particles fall on internal vessels under the skin). In this case, the infection contained in the acne can easily get on the subcutaneous tissue of the orbit or eyelids. Inflammation will pass into the cavity of the skull 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 acne on the face and near the eyes require medical attention and treatment. A full-fledged skin care, proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle are the guarantee of a healthy and radiant skin.