What do skin tags look like?
“Skin tags are usually fleshy growths extending out from a little fibrous stalk,” says Dr. Lal. They’re often darker than your natural skin color and can look like a wart or mole, which is why [professional] diagnosis is so important when it comes to treating eye bumps. “It really does take a trained eye,” he says.
How to treat skin tags
To get rid of a skin tag safely, you need to see your dermatologist (please don’t risk your eyesight with an at-home skin-tag remover from the internet). If the skin tag is small, your doctor can freeze it off and destroy the cells with liquid nitrogen. If the skin tag is thick and large, your derm may just numb the area and snip it off instead. Don’t worry—both options sound intense, but they’re quick and only sting for a few seconds max.
Warts
What are warts?
Warts are raised bumps that can occur anywhere on your body, including your face and eyelids. “All warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is super common and contagious,” says Dr. Lal. “Once you scratch a wart and get it into your nails, you can transmit to another area on your skin.”
What do warts look like?
Here’s where it’s a bit tricky: Warts come in a ton of different shapes and sizes depending on where they are on your body. They can be flat like a mole, or super-raised like a skin tag. But in general, “warts have a cobblestone appearance that just looks wart-like,” says Dr. Lal.
How to treat warts
Because warts can look so similar to moles and skin tags (two bumps that should never be self-treated, especially near your eyelids), and because they’re also highly contagious, you’ll need to see your dermatologist for help. “We typically freeze warts or cut them off,” says Dr. Lal.
Tumors
What are tumors?
A tumor is a mass of abnormal tissue growth that can be malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous). Yes, “tumor” sounds scary, but even a mole is technically classified as a tumor, so don’t freak. Though the majority of tumors and growths on your body end up being benign, they still need to be evaluated and biopsied by your dermatologist to rule out anything suspicious. That’s why we keep recommending you see a doctor for any eyelid bumps that aren’t going away.
What do tumors look like?
Anything, really. Tumors can look like a mole, a fluid-filled cyst, a pimple, milia, or a skin tag. “If you have a bump that bleeds easily or that’s actively growing, get it checked out because it could be skin cancer,” says Dr. Lal.
How to treat tumors
Because there are so many different types of tumors and growths, there’s no single answer for how to treat a tumor. But typically, your doctor will take a skin biopsy, which may involve numbing you and shaving off the growth as a first — and potentially final! – step.
How do you prevent eyelid bumps?
“The cause of most eyelid bumps—like milia, pimples, and styes—tends to be some kind of inflammation or chronic irritation,” says Dr. Akhavan. “The top of the follicle will get clogged, and the keratin will get blocked in, which can also lead to inflammation.” Unsurprisingly, good skin-care habits are the best prevention against most forms of eyelid bumps. “The skin cells are super sticky around your eyes, so they’re more likely to ball up if they get irritated,” says Dr. Lal.
Both he and Dr. Akhavan advise against using super-thick and heavy products around your eyes (bye, slugging), and to thoroughly remove any makeup and wash your face every night. “In my experience, bumps are mostly caused when people repeatedly don’t wash off products and fall asleep with makeup,” says Dr. Akhavan. So even though you can’t magically change your genetics or ward off all eyelid bumps for the rest of your life, you can start double cleansing at night to minimize your chances. And remember: If you see something, say something—to your dermatologist. Risking your eyesight is never worth the laziness of not making an appointment.
