Is it a sty? A bump? Is it a grease spot? Or maybe a pimple? In fact, it can be either of these things, depending on your symptoms and how the infection looks like. In this article, we shall explore all the different possibilities and types of white spots on eyelids. We will also take a look at what causes them and how you can go about curing them.
The Basics on the White Spot on Eyelid Symptom
If you have a white spot on eyelid type of situation going on, then it is most likely a sty or milia. They are typically small, white or yellow in color and appear as a bump on the eyelid or around the eye itself. The color is due to the fact that they are filled with puss or some type of clear fluid your body exudes through the pores.
A white spot on eyelid syndrome can have a number of causes. Here are some general ones. We will delve into further detail below, as we classify the different types of white spots on the eyelid.
- The human eye has numerous oil glands around it or in the eyelids themselves. Their purpose is to lubricate the eye, along with the tears. Sometimes, these glands get clogged up, and this is how a white spot can appear.
- If hygiene is not proper to the eyes, then the dead skin cells cannot be shed. If so, they remain trapped inside the layers of the skin and form milia. You can also see this type of skin occurrence on the rest of the face. Milia affects infants primarily, but you can also see it in adults.
- Infection due to bacteria. The main culprit in these cases is the Staphylococcus bacterium.
Different Types of White Spot on Eyelid
A very important thing you need to know about the white spot on eyelid syndrome is that there is more than one type of spots. They appear because of different causes. The reason why you need to differentiate them is the treatment. According to the kind you have, you might need a visit to your eye doctor, a course of antibiotics if it’s an infection or just a good scrubbing and better hygiene.
Here are all the types of white spots on eyelids.
#1. The sty on the eyelid
It is also called the pimple of the eyelid because this is what it looks like. A sty in itself is a small infection in the eye caused by a bacterium. It finds its way into the oil glands and infects them until they burst out in pimple-like bumps filled with puss or liquid.
The usual suspect, as mentioned above, is the Staphylococcus bacterium. However, all the other types of bacteria can cause it as well. It depends on what managed to get into your eye.
This type of bacteria is indigenous to the eyelid, so to say. They are to be found naturally in that location and do not harm the eye until other features come into focus. Sometimes, external or internal factors add up to the equation and cause the bacteria to multiply out of control. If that is the case, then they will block the oil glands and produce the infection.
It will show as a very tender and red area on the eyelid. It will present a small white bump right in the middle of the swelling. That is where the puss is.
Keep in mind that the most common cause of this type of white spot on the eyelid is rubbing your eyes without washing your hands.
#2. Milia spots
These are very small dots or bumps which occur on the eyelids, around the eye, and on the nose and cheeks. The bumps typically appear in clusters and not alone in these areas. They are the result of the skin not being able to shed its dead cells as well as it should. They remain trapped in there, as new layers of skin cells grow and form these bumps which you can see with the naked eye from the surface.
Inside, they have small bumps of keratin. It’s a protein which one naturally finds in the skin, hair, and nails. The white spots are hard to touch and solid in appearance. You should not confuse them with acne or pimples because they are far from that.by
The cause of milia in adults is severe damage by the sun and trauma to the eyelid.
#3. White spot on the eyelid which gets left behind after blepharoplasty
Here is another type of white spots in the eye area. Some individuals, after they have surgery on their upper eyelids, otherwise known as blepharoplasty, can experience some white spots. A part of the patients states that they get them even months or a whole year after they have had the surgery.
If this is your case, then you most likely have an epithelial inclusion cyst. There is no need to worry, as this is just another name for the one we detailed above, milia. If so, then you can go to your dermatologist or even your beautician and have them remove the white spots for you.
The way to determine if the operation was the cause is by looking at the exact location of the cysts. If they have formed right along the surgery’s incision lines, then it’s clear they are in relation to that.
#4. White spot on the eyelid due to wearing makeup
Another source of infection in the eye region is makeup. Not all makeup, evidently. However, if you have been using expired products or dirty brushes, then you are likely to develop a sty. You need to make sure you use good-quality makeup as well as clean brushes.
Apart from that, you must never go to sleep while still wearing makeup. It will lead to the clogging of the eyelash pores and more severe damage. Always remove all traces of makeup and wash your face thoroughly.
#5. Cysts from wearing contacts
In fact, it’s not the contact themselves which cause the white spots on an eyelid. It’s the pathogen agents which infected lenses carry with them. If lenses are very poorly cleaned, then all the bacteria and germs make their way into the eyes and infect them.
In case you notice that your eyes are watering uncontrollably, that you got a cyst on or inside the eyelid or that blinking now feels painful, then your problems are, probably, caused by your contacts.
#6. Cholesterol bumps
Cholesterol can also cause white spots on the eyelid, either upper or lower or around the eye. They appear small, round, and pearly in color. The reason is that they are full of fat. The cholesterol bumps start off as a small-sized spot. However, they soon change in size and shape, and they may even multiply.
The reason why we get these cholesterol bumps is not clear yet. It can be because of elevated triglycerides or LDL level, or they can also be a condition one is born with. The only cure for this white spot on eyelid condition is a healthy lifestyle and a diet low in carbs and fats.
How to Cure the White Spot on Eyelid
Here are some ideas on how you can take better care of your eyes and rid yourself of that pesky white spot on your eyelid.
- Wash your hands as many times as possible during the day.
- Do not rub or touch your eyes if your hands are not clean.
- Never share your cosmetic or makeup products with other people. Brushes fall into the same category.
- Don’t use makeup products that are now past their expiring date.
- If you have an infected eye, don’t use any makeup on it until you can see it has completely healed.
- If you have a sty or a chalazion, you can allow it to heal on its own because it will. You can use warm compresses four to six times a day to help it along in the healing process.
- Clean your eyelids thoroughly using a very gentle soap or a baby shampoo.
- If you notice a bump on your eyelid, do not squeeze it. Apart from the fact that you might be damaging your eye, you can cause further infection. This is exactly the same reason why you should never pop pimples. The puss and other fluids that come out of there when squeezed are simply full of bacteria. By squeezing it, you allow the bacteria to roam free and infect other parts of your eye.
- You can also treat your stye with some antibiotic cream. It will help reduce its size when swollen and relieve some of the pain and itchiness. Please refer to your eye doctor to get such cream.
- If you have a chronic sty, your doctor may also ask you to take a course of antibiotics or even undergo surgery. However, these cases are extremely rare.
No matter what type of white spot in eyelid you have, it’s imperious that you visit your physician and discuss about it. Remember that it can be just a simple sty which will go away in a few weeks, but it can also be skin cancer. Do not put off the visit and stay on the safe side!
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