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Original poster

Milia on upper eyelid - removal?

30 replies

Nandiniti · 13/11/2021 09:34

I've posted in S&B rather than Health because I think this is more about appearance (OK, vanity) than a medical issue - I have a white bump, about 3mm long, deep under the skin of my upper eyelid. It's clearly visible even behind my glasses, and from watching a million Dr Pimple Popper videos I'm 99% certain it's just milia and can be removed.

I'd have a go at it myself but a) it's too deep and b) messing with your own eyelid is stupid. According to Google there are beauticians qualified in "specialist electrolysis" who can remove it for £50, or a proper private dermatologist can do it for a snip at about £250 including the consultation.

Has anyone had anything similar removed, is a beautician just as qualified to handle it as a skin doctor?

OP posts:
Bagelsandbrie · 13/11/2021 09:45

Watching with interest as I have EXACTLY the same thing and was contemplating posting an identical thread…!

Kiitos · 13/11/2021 09:53

I have had milia removed by a beautician, though the ones I’ve seen won’t touch anything too close to the eyes

KittenKong · 13/11/2021 09:55

Go to the doctor!

Original poster
Nandiniti · 13/11/2021 09:55

Oh really?! Milia solidarity!

I actually started getting another one on the other side, but it was closer to the bridge of my nose, more conventionally pimple-like and closer to the surface - so I dealt with that one!

I thought of mentioning it to the GP but it seems such a trivial thing and I don't mind paying anyway. Just wondered if the difference between £50 and £250 was the difference between keeping and losing an eye haha!

OP posts:
Original poster
Nandiniti · 13/11/2021 09:56

Cross-posted, I really don't think it's something to bother the GP with tbh.

OP posts:
Buckydoesafart · 13/11/2021 09:58

I’ve had one before and removed it myself with a sterilised needle using a magnifying mirror - my beauty therapist advised to steam your face a bit so your pores were open and then I grabbed the skin around the milia pinched it up and then used the needle - it took me about 4 goes as I was scared and then I gave it a gentle squeeze some white yuck came out, but it didn’t all come out so I did it again a few weeks later as I didn’t want a hole on my eyelid! I couldn’t find anyone who was willing to do it near me - the only annoying thing is I have another one (much smaller) near the first one so need to do the same to that!

Mamamamasaurus · 13/11/2021 10:02

I've had one in the same place. While I don't advise you to do it, I took a pin to mine and poked around, very gently and managed to get it out.

You might be as well in Sporner Corner too, you'll be revered there. And no, GPs wouldn't touch this right now, or at all IMO, it's purely cosmetic

Original poster
Nandiniti · 13/11/2021 10:43

Exactly, purely cosmetic! Oooh OK I'm not squeamish so I could have a go with a needle - I have tried grasping it with tweezers but a simple squeeze won't be enough, it's too many layers below.

A needle might do it though...

Thanks for the tips, I'll update from A&E. Wink

OP posts:
Original poster
Nandiniti · 13/11/2021 10:45

Here's ma wee pal

Milia on upper eyelid - removal?
OP posts:
Pumpkinsonparade · 13/11/2021 10:48

Couldn't have resisted so long from having a poke!!

Cheerbear23 · 13/11/2021 12:13

That’s quite deep in the skin. I’ve just done one very close to my lashes but it was very close to the surface. I’d give it a needling with a sterilised needle or pin and try to open a bit of a ‘gap’ to squeeze it out. Get this moved to sporner corner too- the sporners will help you!

Pinkywoo · 13/11/2021 12:25

I was also going to suggest Sporners Corner! I had one similar and poked it with a needle, on the second poke a little ball came out and it was completely gone.

SleepWoof · 13/11/2021 12:32

Is that maybe a small xanthelasma? I've removed a few milia from my lids over the years but not sure I would mess with a xanthelasma at home

PlanDeRaccordement · 13/11/2021 12:35

I’ve taken care of these by using applying hot compresses. It brings the pus to the surface and then usually it self-pops and you can wipe it away.

Original poster
Nandiniti · 13/11/2021 13:30

Holy shit @SleepWoof - I just looked that up, and whilst most are far worse than mine it does look exactly like an early one doesn't it. Shock

Plus its not like a "normal" milia, it's not hard and round, but soft and flat and more like a narrow line of material than a lump.

You're right, I'd better not poke at it. I'll make a routine appt with the GP, I'm going in for BP checks anyway so I suppose they'll have to check my cholesterol again. Cholesterol was just fine 5 years ago, this white slug came up at the beginning of lockdown!

OP posts:
Alocasia · 13/11/2021 22:45

Yep that looks like a xanthelasma to me. Don’t try to remove it yourself!

ParkheadParadise · 13/11/2021 22:54

That definitely looks like a xanthelasma.
The reason I know is a friend had them in both eyelids. She tried to remove it with a wart remover pen 🙈🙈🙈 DON'T TRY THIS. She ended up in hosptial. Her eyes were a bloody mess and infected. She still has them as the NHS doesn't remove them anymore.

beautifullymad · 14/11/2021 07:59

@Nandiniti

Holy shit *@SleepWoof* - I just looked that up, and whilst most are far worse than mine it does look exactly like an early one doesn't it. Shock

Plus its not like a "normal" milia, it's not hard and round, but soft and flat and more like a narrow line of material than a lump.

You're right, I'd better not poke at it. I'll make a routine appt with the GP, I'm going in for BP checks anyway so I suppose they'll have to check my cholesterol again. Cholesterol was just fine 5 years ago, this white slug came up at the beginning of lockdown!

Higher levels of cholesterol cause deposits around the eye. Definitely get your levels checked out.
Benjispruce5 · 14/11/2021 08:55

Ok I’m not saying you should do this but I had one of these and my now departed DM sorted it for me in minutes.She soaked one of her dressmaker pins in boiling water and gin and pierced it. Gave a gentle squeeze and it was gone.Grin

Benjispruce5 · 14/11/2021 08:56

Oh and I have always had cholesterol around 4.0.

PiscesScot · 15/11/2021 21:02

I had something similar which for years thought was just part of my face now…one day took a blackhead extractor to kind of ‘isolate’ it, stuck a pin in and it popped!

It (or another in nearby area) came back over lockdown and I couldn’t get it to pop again…until I put a tiny bit of retinol serum on every few days. Eventually it felt a bit tender to touch and I could tell it was nearer the surface. Popped it out between two cotton buds.

I’m not sure if retinol is recommended for the eye area, and whether that’s what helped or not. But I really feel like it did!

BusterGonad · 16/11/2021 12:52

That doesn't look like milia to me either.

Milomonster · 17/11/2021 07:28

Have you squeezed it? I had an eyelid milia and squeezed it. It squashed into smaller segments and flattened. I did try the needle method first but it didn’t help. I think squashing it helped to break it down and now it has almost vanished.

Chenga · 17/11/2021 07:34

Your cholesterol doesn’t have to be high to have xanthelasma (so my dermatologist told me) but this looks more like a syringoma anyway.

HollyHocks13 · 17/11/2021 07:43

That definitely looks like a xanthelasma. I had one removed privately earlier this year. Mine started the same as yours and then grew to around twice the size gradually. It cost me around £500 to have it removed at a private hospital. I'm really glad I did it and although expensive, it was worth it as it was bothering me. Please don't mess with it yourself!