Milia Prevention and Treatment

Milia are tiny white bumps that can afflict skin at any age. They look like a tiny pearl that sits just below the skin’s surface. Milia are usually found under and around the eyes and can appear anywhere on your face. They are basically dead skin cells that get trapped in pockets near the skin’s surface, keratinize, and become hard. The difference between milia and acne is that they do not grow in a pore. Therefore, they can’t be popped or squeezed out. They pose no threat to you and are mostly a cosmetic pain in the butt. So what causes milia? What can you do to prevent your skin from ever getting them or if you do have milia, what can you do to get rid of them?

What Causes Milia?

While milia can occur at any age, they are most common in infants. Roughly half of all babies experience some form of milia. Nearly all babies and most adults who suffer with milia get them because the skin has not been properly exfoliated. Adults can also experience secondary milia where burns or rashes cause the skin to blister, thereby damaging the pore lining. Milia can disappear without treatment. When infants have milia, most doctors recommend that you do not attempt any special treatment. Merely wash your baby's skin with warm water and pat it dry with a soft towel every day. Here are some of the most common things that cause milia to form on your face.

• Oil-based skincare products
• Thick, heavy, rich creams
• Hormonal changes
• Genetics
• Sun damage
• Some medications
• Not enough exfoliation

Milia Prevention

Here are 4 simple tips and recommendations that can help you prevent milia formation in the first place.

Skip rich creams and oil-based products: Rich creams, especially used around the eye area, can clog and block pores. Eye creams that are overly rich (very thick in texture almost like a paste) or even rich concealers can cause milia, so avoid them to prevent milia. Try to use oil-free products on your face as well.

Protect your skin from the sun: Sometimes sun burns may result in damaged skin, which causes milia to appear. Prevent this problem by always wearing sunscreen or sunblock.

Keep your hands away from your face: Your hands often carry a lot of bacteria. Avoid touching your face with your hands so you don’t spread that bacteria to your face.

Exfoliate your skin 2-3 times a week: Dead cells can really stand in the way of how well ingredients are able to penetrate your skin. Think of the surface of the epidermis and those dead skin cells on it as a barrier. You have to remove those dead cells for products to get in. With regular exfoliation 2-3 times a week, makeup goes on smoother. If you have blackheads or acne, it unclogs pores. If you have dry skin, your skin will be less dry because your moisturizer will penetrate better. Skincare products work so much better if there isn’t dead skin in the way. Regular exfoliation helps prevent and treat milia as well. It’s always best to exfoliate in the evening since freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to sunlight. Never scrub your face too hard with an exfoliator. Over exfoliation can strip away your lipid barrier, making skin more susceptible to irritation and bacterial infection.

Treating Milia

First, realize that milia are located under the skin, so they can be difficult to extract on your own. The safest way to get rid of them is to have a dermatologist lance or extract them. However, since they are very small, in many cases people just opt to let them be.

Keep your face clean: Regular cleansing is an important step in treating milia at any age. Children should wash their face once a day, while teens and adults should wash their face twice a day. Use warm water to relax pores as you wash your face.

Use a good exfoliating moisturizer or treatment: Teens and adults should treat milia with a good exfoliator in the form of either a moisturizer or treatment. An exfoliating moisturizer is a good idea if your milia is widespread and accompanied by dry skin, which will help reduce the build up of dead skin cells below the skin and the exfoliating aspect will allow skin to release the dead cells that have already accumulated. Look for a moisturizer or serum that contains vitamin A and is free of heavy oils. An exfoliator treatment is best if you only have a few milia present. Choose a targeted treatment containing salicylic acid. The treatment should be applied directly to the milia once daily until they disappear, but check the label to make sure. It’s also important to gently exfoliate your skin 2-3 times a week with a good exfoliating scrub too.

Don’t scratch: Milia should disappear on their own in a few weeks. They should not cause any discomfort. You may end up causing damage to your skin if you attempt to pick at or pop them on your own. Popping them will not be able to make them go away. You may even create a scar from doing this.

Retinoids: Another easy and effective way to banish milia is by topically applying a small dot of retinol or tretinoin to them. Apply a pea-sized drop of retinol to the milia-covered area of your face every other night. Wait roughly 30 minutes after you wash your face before using the retinol. The only problem with this is that some milia can be present on the eye lids, which isn’t a good place to apply retinoids. Do not apply retinol to the upper eye lid since it can cause irritation and damage if it gets into your eyes.

Professional facial treatments: If milia are persistent, you may opt for professional chemical peels or microdermabrasion.

Talk to your dermatologist about lancing or cryotherapy: Lancing is the most common method of dealing with milia. Dermatologists use a thin, sterile needle to prick each individual milium and squeeze out the little hard bump. Another option is cryotherapy. If the milia is located in a sensitive area, like the eye lids, your dermatologist may consider freezing it first and then removing it. When done properly, both of these treatments will leave no scars and cause no skin damage.

So there you have it…I hope you found these prevention and treatment tips helpful when it comes to milia. If you already have them, please don’t attempt to lance, pick at, or pop them on your own. Go see a dermatologist or licensed skin specialist for that. It’s better to be safe than sorry!

Sources:

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1058063-treatment