In this article:
What are these white bumps on the face?
The white bumps are NOT pimples
How to get rid of white bumps
Tips for removing white bumps on the face
Small, hard, white bumps, which show up mostly on the face, can happen to just about anyone, including infants. These frustrating yet benign bumps are incredibly stubborn, and can last for weeks, months, or even longer.
There’s a right way and a wrong way to tackle them and doing it the wrong way can damage your skin. Following our science-backed recommendations below should help you safely resolve these small bumps on the face and possibly keep them from returning.
What are these white bumps on the face?
Small white bumps on the face can occur just about anywhere from your forehead to your chin, but in many cases, you’ll notice these bumps in the undereye area, where they tend to crop up in a more concentrated fashion.
These bumps don’t just happen to adults and teens – it's estimated between 40-50% of newborns in the United States develop them (1). A buildup of keratin, a protein that makes up part of skin’s structure, causes these stubborn, hard white bumps that most often crop up across the face (but can appear on the body too!) (2). Keratin builds up under the skin when skin doesn’t shed properly, creating a small, hard bump on skin’s surface.
The white bumps are NOT pimples
If you’ve experienced these white bumps on your skin, you’ve likely wondered if they were a pimple or some type of breakout. Many people mistake these tiny, pearl-like bumps for acne, but they are not the same thing (3). One of the easiest ways to differentiate the two is by how they feel.
Unlike acne, these bumps are rather firm and squeezing has little to no impact on them. Also, unlike acne, they can show up around the eyes and on parts of the face where there aren’t many active oil glands (4). They also aren't painful like red, sore breakouts.
From a development standpoint, the causes of these tiny white bumps and acne vary quite a bit. Whereas keratin buildup causes these small bumps, acne is a multifactorial condition generated by a buildup of debris and skin within pores, overproduction of oil by sebaceous glands, inflammatory factors and a buildup of Cutibacterium acnes bacteria on skin’s surface.
How to get rid of white bumps
In some cases, these tiny, hard, white bumps will go away on their own without treatment. Being patient and waiting it out is one option—but waiting it out isn’t for everyone.
Because these bumps can form when the skin’s natural exfoliation process malfunctions, using a targeted exfoliating treatment with salicylic acid (BHA) can help (5). Using an exfoliant for white bumps immediately improves skin turnover, which can prompt the bumps to dissolve on their own relatively quickly or even prevent future ones from forming.
If your skin doesn’t respond to using a BHA exfoliant after several weeks, make an appointment with your dermatologist, who can tell you if you’re dealing with something known as milia or a different issue, and what the best remedies are.
Along with a BHA exfoliant, it’s essential that you use a gentle, effective skin care routine to minimise the chance of them reappearing and promote even skin texture. This means using a gentle cleanser and toner, as well as leave-on products with skin-restoring ingredients, like retinol and niacinamide. A broad-spectrum daytime moisturiser to protect your skin every day is also integral to an effective skin care routine. However, be wary of emollient or thicker sunscreens because it’s thought that thicker creams might lead to white bumps.
A gentle, effective routine like this will help reduce the possibility of those annoying white bumps showing up on your face again. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Corey Hartman says, “A topical regimen may resolve existing white bumps once formed, but a consistent topical regimen really excels at preventing the bumps before they appear.”
Tips for removing white bumps on the face
Because these bumps are not pimples, it’s critical that you do not treat them like such; the anti-acne ingredient benzoyl peroxide will have no impact.
It’s also critical that you do not squeeze, scrape, poke or in any other way physically try to remove these bumps from your face, as you would a pimple. Because the bumps are hard and begin beneath skin’s surface, these methods are very unlikely to help at all. Instead, you might wind up irritating and damaging the skin surrounding it.
Dr. Corey Hartman elaborates, “There’s essentially a hard shell covering these balls of calcified keratin that are impossible to penetrate with the force of squeezing alone.” He continues, “A sterile metal tool called a comedo extractor or an 11-blade razor is used in office to puncture the surface and release the white bumps. Otherwise, the force of trying to remove these bumps without first puncturing the skin with a sterile instrument can lead to unnecessary inflammation and skin discolouration.”
To sum up: An at-home gentle skin care routine that contains a BHA for white bumps should help get these bumps under control. But, if a consistent routine doesn’t lead to visible improvement after several weeks (remember, these bumps can be stubborn!), then it’s time to consult a dermatologist.
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References for this information:
- Cleveland Clinic, Website, Accessed June 2025
- Stat Pearls, 2025
- Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, , December 2008, pages 1050–1063
- Cutis, April 2013, pages 191–192
- Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dermatology, August 2015, pages 455–461
