In conclusion, milia aren't harmful but they can be unsightly. If they aren't on the eyelid or under the eye, you can simply and safely remove them at home. And to prevent milia in the future, make sure to keep your face clean, especially before bedtime, gently exfoliate regularly, and avoid sunburns.
Dr. Farber recommends Differin Gel and SkinBetter AlphaRet Overnight Cream as over-the-counter options, but your dermatologist may also prescribe a tretinoin cream.
Treating Milia
They'll go away on their own after a few weeks or months. You may be tempted to pick at or pop the milia. This irritation may only make it worse and cause complications. Picking at the skin around the milia can lead to scarring or an infection.
The most common procedure for milia removal is de-roofing. Dermatologists use a sterile needle to remove the tiny flap of skin trapping the keratin flake inside the pore. They then squeeze or prick out the flake.
These bumps may be milia, which are small bumps that contain keratin, a skin protein. You've likely seen milia on babies' skin. Milia is very common in infants because their skin is still learning to slough off dead skin cells. While milia are common in infants, adults can get it too.
Products that boost exfoliation and cell turnover keep the skin smooth and thin, thereby eradicating milia and preventing them from recurring. I highly recommend Skinceuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub, which is gentle enough to use daily without leaving the skin overly dry or irritated.
Milia are harmless and, in most cases, they will eventually clear by themselves. In babies, they clear after a few weeks. However, in some people, milia can persist for months or sometimes longer. Secondary milia are sometimes permanent.
Milia Treatment Options
However if they are widespread or unsightly, there are several treatments your Water's Edge Dermatology practitioner may recommend: Cryotherapy (freezing off the cysts) Deroofing (using a fine needle to pick out the contents) Laser ablation (using a laser to destroy the cysts)
Milia are actually cysts, made up of loose skin or keratin, a protein, that gets trapped under the surface of the skin. Try as you might to remove milia at home, it can be difficult or nearly impossible, because milia are simply too hard to squeeze and they are under the skin's surface rather than trapped in a pore.
It has been hypothesized that milia originate from the hair bulge of the outer root sheath. To elucidate the histogenesis of milia, an immunohistochemical study was performed using anti-keratin and anti-filaggrin antibodies to determine the levels of keratin and filaggrin expression.
It usually takes around 45-60 days for cells to move from the basal layer of the skin (i.e. the innermost layer) to the surface, so it depends on how deep the milia are for how long it will take to remove them, though generally, it takes 2-3 weeks.
Milia don't need to be treated, and they usually go away within a few weeks to months. But you may want to get rid of the bumps sooner for cosmetic reasons. Like any other skin abnormality, don't pick at a milium (the singular form of milia). That'll only make it worse.
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.
How do you remove them in your clinic? A sterilised needle is used to slightly open the skin over the milia and then it can be extracted out of the skin. It's a pretty painless procedure with minimum downtime afterwards. In most cases all milia can be treated in around half an hour treatment time.
In most cases, milia will disappear on their own within a few months. A number of home remedies may help get rid of milia. While no specific remedy has been proven to remove milia quickly, these treatments are mostly low-risk.
Use a physical exfoliant
Exfoliation is the most important thing you can do to get rid of milia for good. “[Physical exfoliation] with a facial brush or gentle scrub removes the top dead skin layer and will help milia open and resolve,” says Dr. Gmyrek.
On the inside: Some nutritionists believe there to be a link between vitamin A and omega deficiency and the development of milia. 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.
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser effectively treats milia by using a non-irritating formula. Milia requires you to limit your use of products on your skin.
Products that can cause milia can be make-up removers not labeled oil-free or non-comedogenic, hair spray, hair mousse and gel, heavy sunscreens and some moisturizers.