Concerned About Recurrence After Removing Syringomas Under the Eyes?

You definitely had them removed,

but before you knew it,

those tiny bumps under your eyes

had come back.

Have you ever felt upset after noticing the small, grain-like bumps around your eyes that you had clearly had removed once before, only to see them become noticeable again?

My name is Yideuk Lee, and I work at 이지함피부과, where I examine and address patients’ skin concerns together with them.

Many of you may have opened this post with exactly these concerns. In fact, these are often not pimples that disappear when squeezed, but rather syringomas.

Today, I will calmly explain how we can reduce the burden of treatment, focusing on the question patients considering syringoma removal under the eyes ask most often in the consultation room: “Why do they keep coming back?”

Not something that comes out when squeezed,

A condition different from acne

Syringomas are benign tumors

that develop when the

eccrine sweat ducts,

which carry sweat out,

enlarge in certain areas.

In simple terms, you can think of them as small passages through which sweat travels becoming slightly swollen.

They typically appear as multiple, flesh-colored or light-brown bumps measuring about 1–3 mm under the eyes or on the eyelids.

They can easily be confused with acne or milia, but syringomas are located in the dermis, so squeezing them with your fingers does not produce a white substance.

Because they are not painful or itchy, many people simply wonder, “Can I just leave them alone?” and move on.

They are somewhat more common in women in their 30s and 40s, but they can certainly occur in men as well.

In some cases, there may initially be only one or two, but the number may appear to increase over time.

Why do they appear under the eyes,

and why do several develop at once?

Many people ask,

“Did I do something wrong to cause this?”

However, syringomas are more strongly associated with an inherent predisposition and hormonal influences than with a lack of skincare.

There may be a genetic tendency, so many people also have family members with similar bumps.

First of all, I want to tell you that there is absolutely no need to blame yourself by asking, “Why is this happening only to me?”

They may become more prominent during periods of significant hormonal change, such as after puberty, pregnancy, or menopause, as well as during hot seasons when sweating increases.

When they look more noticeable because of warmer weather or changes in your condition, they can feel even more concerning.

The skin under the eyes is thin and contains many sweat glands, so bumps in this area are particularly visible. This is also why so many people look into syringoma removal under the eyes.

How are these bumps treated in the consultation room?

So, how is syringoma removal under the eyes actually performed?

We mainly use a CO₂ (carbon dioxide) laser. The principle is to gradually smooth the lesions on the skin’s surface with a very fine laser.

It may be easiest to understand it as lightly shaving down the raised areas to even out the skin’s texture.

However, because syringomas are located deep in the dermis, it is important to adjust the depth and proceed gradually rather than treating too aggressively at once in order to reduce the risk of scarring.

The laser intensity is adjusted little by little according to the size and depth of each lesion.

Since the affected areas are small, the treatment itself usually does not take long for each spot.

Before proceeding, we first examine the condition to ensure that the bumps are not being confused with other skin lesions.

You may feel some stinging and warmth during the treatment. To minimize discomfort as much as possible, we apply numbing cream beforehand.

The real reason why “a perfectly clean result in one session” is difficult

This is the key point of today’s post.

Because syringomas have roots deep in the dermis, treating only the surface makes it difficult to reach the tissue underneath.

In addition, because of the constitutional factors mentioned earlier, new lesions may appear over time.

Therefore, it may be more comfortable to understand syringoma removal under the eyes not as achieving “a perfectly clean result in one session,” but as a process of carefully smoothing the area over several sessions while monitoring its condition.

Recurrence is not due to inadequate care; it is a characteristic of syringomas, so you do not need to blame yourself.

The more concerned you are about recurrence, the gentler it may be on your skin not to push too hard in a single session.

For this reason, we may check the lesions remaining after the first treatment and make a plan for the next session together.

The effects and course of recovery may vary depending on each person’s skin condition.

If you want to ease concerns about scarring after treatment

Small scabs may form after treatment. Please wait until they fall off naturally, as forcibly removing them may leave marks.

The area under the eyes is prone to developing pigmentation, so protecting it from ultraviolet rays is very important.

Apply sunscreen carefully, and consider using a hat or sunglasses when going outside.

For about one week after treatment, it is best to postpone saunas, jjimjilbangs, and strenuous exercise that causes your body to heat up.

Adequate moisturization can also help with recovery. Following these care instructions can considerably reduce concerns about scarring or hyperpigmentation.

Drinking enough water and getting sufficient sleep can also quietly support the skin’s recovery.

However, please remember that recovery speed and results may vary from person to person.

It is okay if they come back—let’s take a careful look together, step by step

I fully understand how anxious you may feel before syringoma removal under the eyes, worrying, “What if they come back again?”

However, recurrence is not a failure. It is more closely related to the nature of syringomas as lesions, and by monitoring and treating them steadily, we can reduce the burden.

At 이지함피부과, we continue to provide honest consultations and established treatments with the belief that our goal is to create a comfortable-looking face rather than excessive change.

Above all, I want to emphasize that you do not need to be impatient.

For those who have been concerned about the area under their eyes for a long time, we will carefully examine and treat it together at a pace suited to your skin condition, so that you can look in the mirror with a slightly lighter heart.

💬 Answers directly from the director

Q1. Why do syringomas develop?

A. Syringomas are benign tumors that develop when the eccrine sweat ducts, or sweat passages, enlarge.

They are strongly influenced by an inherent predisposition, genetics, and hormonal changes, rather than being caused by improper skincare or care.

Q2. Can’t they be removed by squeezing them?

A. Syringomas are located inside the dermis, so they do not come out when squeezed by hand.

Instead, irritation may cause redness or leave marks, so we recommend that you do not try to squeeze them forcibly.

Q3. Why do they come back even after treatment?

A. Because the roots are deep in the dermis and new lesions may develop due to an individual predisposition, they may recur over time.

It may be more reassuring to understand this as a characteristic of syringomas rather than as inadequate care.

Q4. Can dermatological treatment help?

A. Yes. We can examine the depth of the lesions and the condition of the skin, then adjust the treatment depth accordingly.

It can be helpful because post-treatment scar and pigmentation care can also be addressed. However, the course of recovery varies from person to person.

🏥 Information about 이지함피부과

📍 Location

502, 5th Floor, 429 Gangnam-daero,

Seocho-gu, Seoul

(Dongil Building, Seocho-dong)

Near Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station

📞 Phone: 02-567-5900

🕒 Consultation hours

· Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10:00–19:00

· Saturday 10:00–17:00

· Lunch break (weekdays) 13:00–14:30

· Closed Wednesdays, Sundays, and public holidays

Located between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station, it is conveniently accessible.