If you have been having problems with a crop of those little white spots, called Milia, under your eyes, here are some tips for how you could get rid of them. First of all, you really should take a two-pronged approach. The first element is more concerned with teaching yourself what to do to minimize the likelihood of milia appearing in the first place, especially in the eye area as there is often a specific reason for these. The second element is being aware of the correct, safe way of removing the milia that appear in the delicate skin beneath your eyes. Follow our advice below.

Some people refer to two types of milia: primary and secondary – you should also be aware that these are also referred to as whiteheads and the two terms seem to be interchangeable.

• Primary milia are the ones caused when dead skin cells become trapped in the pores. This type is very common in newborn babies as well as adults.
• Secondary milia occurs when the skin’s ducts suffer damage from a condition such as poison ivy – and this type is unlikely to be the sort that you have if they have developed in the area under and around your eyes.

Knowing the likely causes is an important part of learning how to get rid of milia. Normally they appear as a result of a few factors. Some people are more prone to them than others, which simply comes down to genetics! Another common cause is too much sun exposure, as this makes the skin thicker and tougher, making it more difficult for dead skin cells to remove themselves naturally from the glands.

Certain skin products may also lead to these little white bumps. Topical steroids and heavy, rich eye cream and moisturizer are common culprits. Quite simply, anything you apply to your face that is too heavy or comedogenic (likely to clog the pores) may trap the dead cells and oil.

If you avoid too much sun and avoid using heavy eye creams and skin care products and still have milia, you need to know the best removal method. You may have come across websites with step-by-step guides to extracting milia at home with a needle, but in our opinion, you should never attempt this. The risks are just too high – you could cause serious damage to your skin and end up with scars. Any extraction procedure should only be carried out by a qualified, experienced professional.

As the skin around the eyes is so delicate, some dermatologists will not extract whiteheads in this area using this method either, and may suggest a chemical peel or microdermabrasion procedure as a less risky alternative. You can actually carry out something similar at home, and there are a wide range of good products available. If you have any concerns, however, you should always speak to a dermatologist before taking any action.

One whiteheads treatment session, unfortunately, is not going to get rid of milia altogether. It is likely to take a few treatments before all the whiteheads are removed. These annoying white bumps may be small but they are very stubborn! So be prepared to spend some time and effort eliminating them. It will be worth it when you have clear skin!

Try This Eye Peel for Milia

Top Tip: We recommend Ole Henriksen Truth Is In The Eyes(TM), it is the same product as reviewed in the video below. It not only acts as a gentle eye peel that avoids the need for an exfoliating scrub product if you are concerned about damaging the skin in this very delicate area, but also helps with fine lines and wrinkles too. Check out the video below before visiting the product page – this product is reviewed right at the beginning and runs up to the one minute forty mark – so you do not need to watch the whole thing if you don’t want to!

You can view the range of Ole Henrikson eye care products available at great prices from Amazon by clicking the button [easyazon-cta align=”right” height=”28″ keywords=”Ole Henriksen Truth Is In The Eyes” key=”amazon-us-small-orange” locale=”us” width=”120″]



As with all types of acne, prevention really is better than cure. You may have come to this page wanting to know how to get rid of milia that have developed beneath your eyes, but what you really need to know if how to stop whiteheads forming in the first place.

Take these steps and hopefully you will keep your skin free from whiteheads.

• Eat a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetable.
• Drink plenty of water – around 8 glasses per day is the recommendation. Water flushes out toxins, which means a better complexion!
• Use a gentle, oil-free cleanser to clean your face every morning and evening.
• Stay away from creams that are too heavy or rich and any skin care product which might clog the pores (look for the term non comedogenic on the labelling).
• Use a gentle exfoliator or scrub to remove stubborn dirt and dead skin cells, but no more than a couple of times a week. Over-use of these products can damage your skin and lead to even more pore blockages.
• Go makeup free as often as possible. If you absolutely have to wear makeup, use oil-free products, and replace a heavy foundation with a light, tinted moisturizer. Let your skin breathe.

As you can see, knowing how to get rid of milia is really a case of keeping your skin as clean and healthy as possible. If you are at all unsure about the problem you have, a consultation with a skin care professional will set your mind at rest and help you to establish a treatment protocol that you can use at home to regain your clear complexion.

Alison Graham on Google+