Black Dots Under Eyes: Causes and Treatments
If you have dark brown or black lumps, tiny in size and multiple in number, sitting on the cheekbones and under the eyes, it’s likely you have dermatosis papulosa nigra. Despite the grand title, these are completely harmless.
These usually feel smooth and soft and are each only 1 to 5 mm wide, and you may have a few or many, of differing sizes. They appear from the teenage years onwards and don't usually cause any symptoms, but some find them unsightly, especially with their prominence on the face.
Doctor’s advice
What can you find here?
How is this condition treated?
There isn't any treatment per se, but a dermatologist may choose to treat them surgically. This condition is more common in those of Afro-Caribbean descent and women get them more often than men. They often run in families.
These are thought to be similar to seborrheic keratoses, harmless brownish spots that appear anywhere on the body, but dermatosis papulosa nigra tend to appear much earlier in life. They are not contagious, and can't be passed to others.
Healthwords pharmacists' top tips
There are treatments that may help reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation associated with dermatosis papulosa nigra. In addition to using makeup and a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, you can try over-the-counter skin care products containing ingredients such as azelaic acid, vitamin C, kojic acid, or glycolic acid.
Other products, such as Bio-Oil, are marketed to help improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks, and uneven skin tone with regular use. Results can vary, and these products do not remove dermatosis papulosa nigra lesions themselves.
When should I see my doctor?
If you are unsure of your diagnosis, you should book a routine appointment with your doctor, who will consider your symptoms and examine you. If one of the spots has changed or looks different from the others, you should book an urgent appointment in case this needs a specialist opinion.
You should seek a dermatologist consultation if you wish to discuss any other treatment or surgical options.
The AI in healthwords.ai refers to conversational search, while the only AI tools used for articles are grammar and language improvements - medical content remains rigorously authored by healthcare professionals.
Related topics
What can you find here?