Sounds good, right? Unfortunately, keratin can also trap dead skin cells, causing milia. Certain beauty products (especially those with oil) can lead to milia if they're too heavy for the rate of your skin's cell turnover.
Overview. Milia are commonly found on the skin of people of all ages. They are formed when keratin (a substance produced by the skin) becomes entrapped beneath the outer layer of the skin, forming a tiny cyst. An individual milium (the singular of milia) is formed at the base of a hair follicle or sweat gland.
Milia associated with drugs or products
Some ingredients in skin care and makeup products can cause milia in some people. If you have milia-prone skin, avoid the following ingredients: liquid paraffin. liquid petroleum.
Although there isn't a lot of scientific basis behind it, there is no harm in giving vitamin A and omega supplements a go and seeing if it prevents milia from forming for you. Vitamin A and omegas are fabulous for skin health as they help with the skin's cell turnover and hydration.
Milia occur under the eyes due to an excess of keratin. Gently exfoliating the area with a warm washcloth may get rid of dead skin cells and help bring trapped keratin to the surface. Steam.
Milia tends to happen when you have too much sun exposure. Your skin becomes leathery, making it harder for the dead cells to fall off. Sunscreen and moisturizer will keep your skin soft and flexible so it can replace itself the way it should.
When it comes to preventing milia, it's all about exfoliation, exfoliation, exfoliation! You want to maximise your cellular turnover, so things like chemical peels, topical retinoids, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), charcoal, mud masks, micro abrasion and vitamin C are amongst the recommended.
And other lifestyle changes that can help prevent milia include limiting your intake of cholesterol-rich foods (meat, eggs, etc), taking Vitamin D, avoiding heavy oil-based skincare or makeup products and limiting sun exposure (except for early morning sun).
"The biggest side effect of using the wrong moisturizer is developing milia, little hard white bumps on the face in random areas," said Dr. Forney. "This is very common if [you're] using a body moisturizer on the face but can also happen with moisturizers which are too heavy."
Summary. Milia are tiny cysts that form under the skin, usually on the face. Because milia are just a cosmetic issue, the choice to treat them or not is up to you. Treatment isn't necessary and they can go away on their own over time.
Retinol is another milia-eradicating ingredient. Nightly use of low concentrations, like that found in Skin Medica Retinol Complex 1.0, gently increases the skin's cell turnover rate, revealing a fresh smooth layer.
“For adults, they will typically disappear over time, as well, but sometimes they can persist for longer.” If you've got milia that won't seem to go away, Dr. Thompson suggested exfoliating regularly with a peel or treating them cosmetically with a topical retinoid (such as tretinoin or adapalene) for several weeks.
This involves piercing the upper layer of the skin with a surgical blade or needle, and the milia are expressed out using a comedome extractor. Other treatment options for milia seed removal involves electrosurgery and laser surgery, but usually the least traumatic and simplest way is all you need.
Because they normally clear by themselves, milia do not usually need any treatment. However, some people find milia unsightly and so opt for treatment. Milia may be removed using a fine needle and then squeezing, or pricking, out the contents. No anaesthetic is needed.
Dermaplaning can be used to treat or reduce: Fine Lines and Wrinkles. Congested Pores. Milia.
Microdermabrasion alone is in credibly effective for treating comedones and milia. Generally, people have microdermabrasion once a week for two or three months. If retinoic acid and exfoliation are not working to control milia, a dermatologist can extract them.
Give yourself an at-home steam facial.
Steam helps warm up the build up of keratin, making it easier to exfoliate. “The use of warm hydration can loosen up surface skin cells and help them slough away, opening up the milia,” says Dr. Gmyrek. All you need is a bowl of boiling water and a bath towel.
Just take some lemon juice and add a little sugar into it. Mix and apply it on your face. Massage gently for around 15-20 minutes and repeat this process everyday. Your milia spots will reduce within a week.
“If you're an adult with milia, you might try an over-the-counter exfoliating treatment that contains salicylic acid, alpha hydroxyl acid or a retinoid such as adapalene,” Dr. Piliang says. “These can improve the skin's natural turnover by removing the dead cells, and may help the bumps go away faster.”
These create a barrier on the surface on the skin which is the last thing you need when you want to get rid of milia. Mila are not caused by bacteria as some might think – it isn't a spot, so it's important not to treat it like one, your salicylic, benzoyl peroxide, lavender and tea tree are not going help.
Tips for Improving the Appearance of Delicate Eye Area Skin
You'll also want to look for a hydrating blend of moisturizing ingredients such as jojoba esters and niacinamide. Milia may be made more obvious by dark or puffy under eye circles.
If you typically have milia around your eyes, then that eye cream you're using might be too heavy for your skin type. Choose serums instead since they penetrate deep into the skin without blocking the pores. Or if you are bent on using cream, use products with Hyaluronic acid that is gentle on this delicate area.
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is a mild and non-irritating formula cleanser which is effective against milia.