Milia skin is characterized by small white bumps that resemble pimples or warts, but these cysts usually go away on their own over time. You can help stop further cysts from forming by cleansing and exfoliating daily with mild products.
Never squeeze or pick at your milia, as doing so could cause scarring and other forms of skin damage. Instead, visit a physician to have them removed professionally.
Causes
Milia are harmless bumps that typically disappear on their own without treatment, especially in newborns. Most Milia will resolve themselves within several weeks in older children or adults; however, in younger children or infants this process could take up to several months.
Milialar can appear after experiencing burns or blistering skin conditions, treatments like dermabrasion and radiation therapy, medications such as glucocorticoids or 5-fluorouracil, or certain treatments like microneedling. They may affect one or multiple areas of the face. Multiple Eruptive Milia (MEM) is a rare variant involving numerous itchy bumps appearing over a prolonged period – often weeks or months – in one area of skin.
Squeezing or picking at milia can lead to inflammation and permanent scarring. Instead, see a board-certified dermatologist to have them removed in a safe and effective manner – they may suggest non-comedogenic skincare products which don’t clog your pores, as well as vitamin A creams which exfoliate skin effectively.
Symptoms
Milia are small cysts that resemble white heads or seeds under the skin and don’t itch, hurt or cause other problems; most will go away on their own. Milia can affect people of all ages; though infants and young children seem particularly prone. Newborn milia often clear up faster than milia on older children or adults but may remain for months or even longer before finally going away on its own.
Conditions associated with benign acquired milia can occur in clusters and generally appear as small cysts a few centimeters in size. They often form on the face near eyes and cheeks, but may also form elsewhere on the body such as infants’ noses; neonatal milia are called neonatal milia; in children and adults these benign acquired cysts often develop spontaneously after sun damage, blisters, burns or abrasions as well as after sun exposure, blisters burns or injuries as well as after sunburned areas of skin; infants’ neonatal milia appear around eyes and cheeks while infants’ neonatal milia form lines along nasal creases when born; infants are commonly known by neonatal milia name in infants as neonatal milia; when seen on faces they often form lines along their nasal crease when newborn infants.
Treatment
Milia typically do not cause long-term issues and will typically resolve on its own within weeks or months, typically within newborns’ first few months, though children and adults can take longer.
Extraction by a physician using a small needle or lancet can quickly and painlessly extract Milia’s hardened core from your skin, providing long-term protection. Once extracted, Milia should never return.
Chemical peels, laser ablation or destruction curettage – where cysts are surgically scraped off – and daily low concentration retinoid use such as Skin Medica Retinol Complex 1.0 can all help promote healthy cell turnover while helping prevent flareups.
A skincare regimen which includes light moisturizer, sun protection and avoidance of oil-based products may also help decrease Milia flareups. Consult a dermatologist or medical esthetician about creating the ideal regimen for you based on your skin type and needs.
Prevention
Milia can be avoided through using non-comedogenic products and avoiding thick and occlusive creams, exfoliating twice weekly while being cautious not to over-exfoliate, and wearing sunscreen with SPF 30 protection or higher; this will protect the skin against sun damage while helping decrease breakouts of Milia.
Milia are often harmless and do not require medical intervention unless they obstruct vision or cause pain, but if they persist and you would like them removed there are various methods dermatologists can suggest for removal both in-office and at home.
Popping or squeezing milia can lead to infection and scarring, so it is wise to seek the advice of a dermatologist or skincare professional who can accurately diagnose your skin type and history, then suggest appropriate treatment options tailored specifically for you. They will also offer aftercare instructions so you can exfoliate, moisturize, and protect it to keep the milia away.