Blackheads

The image shows several dark, rounded plugs within raised bumps near the lower eyelid and upper cheek. They look like enlarged clogged pores or blackhead-like lesions, but a photograph alone cannot confirm the exact diagnosis.

Because the area is extremely close to the eye, attempting to squeeze or extract these lesions at home can cause unnecessary irritation or injury.

What Could These Dark Plugs Be?

Blackheads, medically called open comedones, develop when a pore becomes blocked with oil and dead skin cells. When the opening remains exposed to air, the material inside oxidizes and appears dark — the black color is not simply dirt.

The nose and nearby facial areas are particularly prone to clogged pores because they contain many sebaceous glands.

However, unusually large or clustered lesions can have other causes, so proper examination is important before labeling them as ordinary blackheads.

Why the Eye Area Needs Extra Care

The skin around the eyes is delicate. Aggressive squeezing, picking, or using extraction tools without proper technique can cause:

Skin irritation
Bleeding
Inflammation
Infection
Post-inflammatory marks
Scarring

Dermatologists generally recommend avoiding picking and squeezing acne lesions because this can worsen inflammation and increase the risk of scarring.

Can Blackheads Be Treated?

Yes. For ordinary blackheads, dermatologists commonly recommend treatments that help unclog pores, including topical retinoids such as adapalene. Salicylic acid can also help remove dead skin cells and clear clogged pores.

Persistent blackheads can sometimes be professionally removed through comedo extraction by a trained healthcare professional.

Because the lesions in the photograph are immediately beside the eye, professional evaluation is preferable to attempting extraction yourself.