I have small white bumps on my face. What can I do?

Most of the bumps people commonly call oil spots are harmless. Different conditions look alike, and which one it is gets sorted out at the consultation.

• A small, white, hard bump. It is common around the eyes and on the cheeks, and it does not come out when squeezed. It is a small keratin cyst trapped under the skin, called a milium in medicine.
• A small yellowish bump with a dip in the middle. It appears on the forehead and around the nose, usually after middle age. It is an enlarged oil gland.
• A yellow, flat plaque on the eyelid. It is a build-up of cholesterol. Blood fats may need to be checked.

Squeezing these bumps or trying to open them with a needle can cause marks, inflammation and infection. Heavy creams and oily products applied around the eyes can increase white bumps.

A bump that is shiny and looks pearly, that bleeds or that is growing can also look like an oil spot and needs to be checked. What is done for a bump depends on its type and is planned at the consultation.