Hard bumps on your face that won’t pop can be due to many things.
These facial bumps become more common with age and during pregnancy.
Illustration by Tara Anand for Verywell Health
1.
Illustration by Tara Anand for Verywell Health
Milia
Miliaare white, raised, hard bumps that look like grains of sand trapped under the skin.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
The white bump you see is this plug showing through a thin layer of skin.
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Milia are incredibly common.
Luckily, milia are completely harmless.
Clogged Pores
Clogged pores, also known ascomedones, are another cause of bumps on the face.
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They are small, usually white or skin-colored, and give the skin a rough and uneven appearance.
The white color you see is a plug of oil trapped inside the pore.
Comedones are actually a pop in ofnon-inflamed acne blemish.
DermNet NZ
Like milia, they are extremely common, especially in people with oily skin.
Comedones aren’t serious, but sometimes they can progress to larger,inflamed pimples.
They can be annoying enough that you will probably want to treat them.
Steven Fruitsmaak/Wikimedia Commons
If OTC products aren’t working well, pay a visit to a healthcare provider or dermatologist.
They can help you devise a treatment plan for comedonal acne.
Sebaceous Hyperplasia
Sebaceous hyperplasiamay look like acne, but it is actually overgrownsebaceous (oil) glands.
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The bumps can be either soft or hard.
Sebaceous hyperplasia is common over the age of 40.
Have a healthcare provider take a look at your skin to see to it you get the right diagnosis.
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But if the bumps bother you, they can be treated with prescription medications and/or an in-office procedure calledelectrodessication.
Sebaceous Cysts
Sebaceous cystsare white, yellow, or flesh-colored soft bumps under the skin.
These cysts are like small sacks under the surface of the skin that are filled with keratin or oil.
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They form around a sebaceous gland when its opening becomes blocked.
Small sebaceous cysts typically don’t hurt, unless they become infected.
Larger cysts can cause some pressure or pain.
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Getting Rid of Sebaceous Cysts
Treatment depends on the cyst.
Some small cysts are treatable with steroid injections, while others may need to be drained or surgically removed.
Seborrheic Keratoses
Seborrheic keratosesare another common, and harmless, throw in of skin blemish.
These growths start as a small bump but can grow to larger than 1 inch in diameter.
They can appear on the face and nearly anywhere else on the body.
They also almost look as if they could be pulled off.
These benign skin growths are more common in people who are middle-aged or older.
Younger people very rarely get seborrheic keratoses.
Treatment for seborrheic keratosisincludes:
6.
Actinic Keratoses
Actinic keratosesdevelop because of damage brought on by UV rays.
These types of growths are more common as you age.
Actinic keratosesoften start out as just a rough, scaly patch on the skin.
As they progress, they turn into crusty, hard bumps on the skin.
They can be white, red, brown, or skin-colored.
Actinic keratoses are considered pre-cancerous lesions because they can develop into skin cancer if left untreated.
Removal and Treatment Options
Treatments for actinic keratosesinclude:
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Skin Cancer
One of the more serious causes of white bumps on the skin isskin cancer.
The bumps may also be pink, red, brown, or skin-colored.
Just like actinic keratoses, basal cell skin cancer is brought on by excessive sun exposure.
Wearing sunscreen every day cuts your risk of developing it.
Xanthelasma
Xanthelasmacauses white-to-yellow, irregularly shaped bumps on the eyelids or around the eyes.
Milia are also common around the eyes, but they are dome-shaped.
People with xanthelasma often have high blood cholesterol levels.
Xanthelasma isn’t very common, but it won’t go away on its own.
These bumps can be removed with:
If you notice xanthelasma, consult your healthcare provider.
Cholesterol deposits could sometimes be a sign of more serious health problems.
Although they aren’t as common as the aforementioned blemishes, they can be more serious.
Summary
White bumps on the face can have many different causes.
Most are likely due to clogged pores or milia, and many don’t require any treatment.
However, others may be a cause for concern.
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