Simple practices can be taken to help prevent milia. Washing with gentle cleanser daily and using non-comedogenic products are vital. Furthermore, sunblock and teaching children about protecting skin early are both great strategies to avoid sun damage.
Milia are usually harmless cosmetic issues that will eventually fade on their own; however, if they cause discomfort there are several treatment options that your dermatologist or skin specialist may suggest for managing them:
Causes
Milia are cysts caused when dead skin cells or protein keratin becomes trapped beneath the surface of skin, often appearing as small bumps or clusters on one or more locations on a person. They do not itch but can become uncomfortable if pinched. Milia are distinct from whiteheads as they do not clog pores – however newborns are particularly prone to neonatal milia on their nose creases and other parts of the face.
Milialar can usually go away on its own within weeks or months, particularly neonatal milia cysts. But if they remain, your healthcare provider can remove them for cosmetic reasons.
Try not to pop or squeeze milia, as this could damage the skin and lead to infection. Your healthcare provider can remove them using a needle puncture of a cyst to release its contents – they might also employ curettage or laser ablation tools as part of their removal method.
Diagnosis
Milia are similar to whiteheads or pimples in appearance but differ by being hard, almost gritty-feeling in texture and lacking redness or inflammation associated with acne. Squeezing or picking at them may lead to them becoming inflamed, bruised and scarred over time if pressed too hard against.
Neonatal milia usually disappear within weeks without treatment; however, older children and adults may need longer to see results. Milia can be removed through cryotherapy; liquid nitrogen freezes the milium before manually or manually extracting with comedone extractor/curette to extract them manually or using comedone extractor/curette device. Dermatologists also recommend non-comedogenic or oil-free skincare, sunscreen use and medication such as tretinoin/azelaic acid use to speed up skin cell turnover to reduce numbers that develop.1
Treatment
Milia are typically not long-term issues and will go away on their own after several weeks or months. Maintaining clean skin by using non-comedogenic products and exfoliating regularly may help to prevent their formation; in addition, limiting exposure to sunrays by using sunscreen products could also prove helpful in keeping milia at bay.
Never pick or squeeze at a milia, as doing so may damage surrounding skin and lead to infection. Instead, contact a dermatologist and have the cysts manually removed using a sterile needle or lancet.
Dermatologists use chemical peels or extreme heat to safely and quickly eliminate milia. If symptoms recur, topical retinoid treatments are prescribed in order to reduce inflammation and promote healthier skin. Protecting yourself from sun damage through lightweight sunscreen use or wearing hats or sunglasses may also help. Although milia are generally harmless conditions, they may cause discomfort for some individuals; thus it’s wise to have regular check-ins with a dermatologist regarding them.
Prevention
Milia tend to resolve themselves within several weeks or months; however, there are steps you can take to reduce their recurrence risk. Avoid picking or squeezing at bumps as this can cause scarring and inflammation; gentle exfoliation with non-comedogenic and oil-free products is recommended as is getting regular professional skin examinations so as to determine an ideal prevention and skincare regime tailored specifically to you.
Milia are small sac-like lumps of keratin that often form following injuries to the skin (e.g. sun damage) as well as medication reactions or reactions to skin care products or cosmetics. Proper hygiene and exfoliation can reduce your chances of milia; should they appear, seeking professional advice may be the most suitable course. Milia can safely be removed with professional removal services while attempts at home could result in scarring, inflammation and other complications that require professional removal services instead.