Milia are white pearly cysts which are hard to remove. Without an opening like pores do, trying to pop one yourself may lead to infection, scarring and damage of the skin.

Acne blemishes can appear anywhere on a newborn’s forehead, cheeks, or eyelids and are most often associated with newborns. Although some cases might go away on their own, if not they should be professionally removed to ensure safe sleeping for both parent and infant alike.

Causes

As opposed to blackheads or pimples, milia do not cause scarring and usually resolve on their own within weeks to months. If they persist beyond this timeline, however, it is essential not to attempt to pop or squeeze them as this may damage the skin and lead to infection.

Milialar can affect all age groups of skin, but is most prevalent among newborns and infants due to immaturity of sebaceous glands. They typically manifest themselves in single bumps or multiple cysts that erupt at once and affect areas like nose, cheeks and eyes, but can also appear anywhere on trunk, genitalia and limbs.

Secondary milia may be caused by sun damage, blistering wounds or certain medical conditions like Gardner syndrome or discoid lupus erythematosus. A dermatologist can examine your skin to identify any links with these conditions and offer treatment accordingly. You may be able to avoid further outbreaks of secondary milia by wearing sunscreen daily and protecting your skin with clothing or hats when outdoors.

Symptoms

Milia typically manifests itself in the form of one or more small pearly bumps under the skin that appear anywhere from forehead, eyelids, eyelashes, eyelashes, eyelids, eyelashes, cheeks trunk or arms. Newborns are most susceptible to this condition but it can occur at any age; typically milia themselves are hard and non-itchy.

Neonatal milia typically disappear within several weeks or months and do not require medical attention; however, if they persist over a prolonged period or do not respond to over-the-counter treatments, seeking professional advice may be necessary.

Picking at milia can cause irritation and increase the risk of complications, since these nodules aren’t caused by bacteria but by dead skin cells accumulating beneath the surface and becoming trapped under it. Furthermore, it is best to use non-comedogenic moisturizers and cleansers designed specifically for infant skin.

Treatment

Newborns and infants are most at risk of Milia, though the condition usually resolves itself by 12 to 18 months old. Milia can affect people of any age or sex and it can be prevented by limiting sun exposure, wearing sunscreen with high SPF protection levels, and using lighter creams and ointments on facial areas.

Avoid trying to squeeze or pick at milia because this could lead to infection and scarring. Instead, regularly clean the affected area while using over-the-counter products designed to exfoliate skin.

Professional removal options include using a sterile needle to puncture cysts and remove their contents, or freezing them using a cryotherapy machine. It is advised to seek advice from a skincare specialist for treatment options tailored specifically for you and any potential causes for your milia.

Prevention

Though primary milia cannot be prevented entirely, taking good care of your skin is one effective way of keeping these tiny cysts at bay. Use gentle cleansers and exfoliators containing salicylic acid; avoid sun exposure; protect from sun rays with sunscreen; use non-comedogenic moisturizer around eyes to keep delicate skin supple and soft; wear eyewear designed specifically to ward off UV radiation rays when outdoors; use non-comedogenic eye moisturizer to maintain soft, supple skin!

Avoid excessive rubbing and touching around the eye area as this can lead to irritation and contribute to the development of milia. Also make sure that your eye makeup brushes are regularly being cleaned so as to not build up with product and dirt build-up.

If you have many milia, a dermatologist may recommend one or more of the following procedures to eliminate them:

Diagnosis

An examination may be all your health care provider needs to diagnose milia. They’ll look out for small dome-shaped cysts with white or yellow centers that feel like seeds beneath your skin; typically painless but sometimes itchy.

Milia are common among newborns but can affect people of any age. It often appear on areas such as foreheads, cheeks, eyelids and genitals but may also appear on damaged parts of the body like hands.

Milia is usually harmless and will go away on its own within weeks to months. Squeezing or picking at them could cause infection and scarring, so if they remain stubborn it’s best not to squeeze or pick at them as this could cause further infection and scarring. For those still concerned a dermatologist can perform simple extraction or prescribe over-the-counter retinoids to help reduce milia numbers; another option would be cryotherapy where liquid nitrogen would be used to freeze and destroy them.