Those tiny white bumps are most often milia—small, trapped keratin cysts that sit just under the skin. They’re usually harmless, not infectious, and very different from styes or chalazia, which tend to be red, swollen, and painful. Milia are firm, pearly, and painless, and they rarely change much in size. Still, their location near the eye makes them feel far more alarming than they usually are.
While you wait for a proper diagnosis, gentle care matters more than action. Avoid squeezing, picking, or “operating” on them yourself; the risk of scarring, infection, and eye injury is real. Keep the area clean, skip heavy eye creams and thick makeup, and use only mild cleansers. Seek urgent care if you notice severe pain, spreading redness, discharge, or vision changes. With the right guidance—from both your skincare routine and your doctor—these bumps are manageable, and often temporary, visitors rather than a permanent sentence.
