A pimple on your eyelid usually isn't acne — it's probably a stye, chalazion, or xanthelasma.
A stye is a round, red bump that can be treated with a warm compress to drain the pus.
A chalazion is similar to a stye, but it's usually larger and takes longer to go away on it's own.
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Though a bump on your eyelid may look like a pimple, it probably isn't acne-related.
Eyelid bumps are often caused by a small infection like a stye or a medical condition like xanthelasma.
While most eyelid bumps aren't dangerous, you may need to see a doctor to get rid of them if you find them unsightly.
Here are three conditions that can cause eyelid bumps and when you should see your doctor.
1. Stye
A stye heals in about a week. apomares/Getty Images
Styes happen when the oil glands along the edges of your lid — next to your eyelashes — become clogged and infected.
A stye looks a lot like a pimple — it shows up as a round, red bump and may even feel irritated and sore. It can also make your eyes tear up or feel more sensitive to light.
How to treat it: In many cases, styes may drain and heal on their own in about a week. But to find relief in the meantime, you can use a warm compress to open up clogged glands and drain infected pus.
To make a warm compress, soak a washcloth in warm water and apply to your eyes for five to ten minutes. You can repeat this up to six times per day until the stye heals.
When you have a stye, you should avoid:
Squeezing or "popping" it, because this can spread the infection and slow the healing process.
Wearing contact lenses or makeup, as these can carry bacteria.
2. Chalazion
Chalazia are usually larger than a stye. RapidEye/Getty Images
A chalazion is a red bump which forms when a gland under your eyelid becomes completely blocked and inflamed. While similar to styes, chalazia are usually bigger and painless as they aren't typically infected, says Debra Jaliman, MD, a board certified dermatologist and professor at Mount Sinai.
In some cases, a stye can turn into a chalazion if it doesn't drain properly. But unlike styes which heal in about a week, a chalazion can take months to heal.
How to treat it: You can treat a chalazion the same way as a stye, by avoiding makeup and using warm compresses. If your chalazion doesn't go away, or becomes painful and swollen, you may need to see your doctor to get it drained.
3. Xanthelasma
You have to go to a doctor to remove xanthelasma. Phynart Studio/Getty Images
Xanthelasma occurs when small deposits of cholesterol form on or around your eyelids. Xanthelasma are yellowish and sometimes look like pimple bumps, but may also look like raised lines around your eyes.
They are relatively rare and usually show up in middle-aged and older people. About half the time, xanthelasma is linked to high cholesterol levels in the blood, but it can also be caused by conditions like hypothyroidism, obesity, certain types of liver disease, and more.
How to treat it: Xanthelasma aren't painful and aren't harmful to your health, but you may choose to remove them for cosmetic reasons. You'll need to go to the doctor who can either:
Remove the growths surgically
Use a laser to remove the outer layers of skin
Freeze the growths with liquid nitrogen
When to see a doctor
"If the bump doesn't go away in a few days or is painful it is important to see an ophthalmologist," Jaliman says. That's because in some cases, eyelid bumps can lead to painful infections that spread throughout your eye and potentially cause vision damage.
You should also see an ophthalmologist if you have any of these symptoms:
An eyelid bump becomes very swollen or painful
Your eye or entire eyelid turns red
Your eye is sensitive to light or is constantly tearing
An eyelid bump bleeds
Your eyelid blisters or develops crusting
You have changes in your vision
Insider's takeaway
Eyelid bumps are usually caused by a minor infection like a stye or may be a sign of high cholesterol .
"Most of these bumps are benign and are not a major problem and will go away on their own," Jaliman says."[But] if they don't resolve on their own, or are painful, seek medical attention."
Madeline Kennedy is a health writer for Insider covering a wide range of topics including reproductive and sexual health, mental health, nutrition, and infectious disease. Before joining Insider, Madeline worked as a health news writer for Reuters, and a domestic violence therapist. She has a master's degree in social work from UPenn and is interested in the intersection of health and social justice.
