What is pearl acne?

Author: Eileen Boyer DDS  |  Last update: Sunday, September 7, 2025

In a new Instagram video, Dr. Pimple Popper removes a stubborn pearl-like milia from a patient. Milia are tiny, dome-shaped bumps on the skin that contain dead skin cells. The growths are actually sometimes nicknamed “Epstein pearls" in medical spaces.

What causes pearl pimples?

Molluscum contagiosum is a skin condition that is common in children but can occur at any age. It is caused by a virus that gives you pimple-like spots with a dimple in the middle. It can be spread by skin-to-skin contact, or when you bathe or share a towel with someone who has the infection.

How do you get rid of Pearl acne?

Treatment to remove milia could include:
  1. Application of over-the-counter adapalene gel or prescription tretinoin cream.
  2. Surgically removing the milia in your healthcare provider's office by using a needle to puncture the milia and squeezing out the contents.
  3. Cryotherapy to freeze the milia on your skin to remove them.

Is milia an STD?

Milia are commonly associated with newborn babies, but may appear on people of any age. They are usually found around the nose and eyes, and sometimes on the genitalia, often mistaken by those affected as warts or other sexually transmitted diseases.

Can you pop a milia?

Milia can't be popped, and attempting to remove them yourself can cause complications like a skin infection.

Quick & Satisfying Milia Pearls

What happens if you pick a milia spot?

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. If you're worried about how milia look, you can take a few steps to help the treatment process.

Is milia caused by poor hygiene?

Milia can also happen when a skin infection or trauma clogs the sweat ducts (i.e. laser treatment, chemical peels, herpes). A lack of sleep, smoking, poor personal hygiene or long-term steroid use can also contribute to the milia. Milia will naturally come to the surface of the skin after a few weeks or months.

Can milia turn cancerous?

Luckily, milia are completely harmless.

How to remove milia seeds at home?

How to get rid of milia at home
  1. Cleaning the affected area daily: People can use a mild soap to prevent skin irritation.
  2. Steaming open the pores: A person can sit in the bathroom and run a hot shower.
  3. Exfoliating the area regularly: Although exfoliating may help, it is best to avoid exfoliating too much.

What is inside milia?

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 enclosed lump underneath the skin).

Does vaseline cause milia?

Another increasingly common cause is people slathering their skin with petroleum jelly, a skincare trend popularised by social media known as 'slugging'. The idea is to lock in moisture and prevent dehydration. While this does make sense for some skin types and your skin may feel smoother, slugging can cause milia.

What is a pimple that looks like a little pearl?

Milia, also known as “milk cysts,” are caused by a protein called keratin that gets trapped under the skin. Milia are small cysts that look like tiny white bumps on the skin.

What can be mistaken for milia?

Syringomas and milia have similar symptoms where a group of bumps will form on your skin. Milia are tiny white bumps filled with the skin protein keratin that form most often on a newborn's skin. Syringomas are small sweat gland growths that look like a yellow or a natural skin tone pimple.

When do Epstein pearls go away?

Epstein pearls are small, harmless white or yellow nodules that may appear along your newborn baby's gums or on the roof of their mouth. These bumps are common and usually go away within three months after birth.

Can you get milia on your private area?

Milia (singular: milium) are benign and transient subepidermal keratin cysts that present as small firm white papules in various numbers most commonly distributed on the face, but they can also be present on other anatomical areas such as the upper trunk, extremities, and genital area (prepuce).

What is a pimple that doesn't pop?

You may have a blind pimple from time to time. Or you may have many blind pimples that take months to go away. A severe type of acne called nodular acne can cause multiple blind pimples along with raised red bumps. These painful blind pimples, or nodules, contain pus and bacteria and feel hard under the skin.

Does insurance cover milia removal?

Milia removal is typically considered a cosmetic procedure and is not covered by most insurance plans unless there is a medical concern.

What is the best face wash for milia?

If you're someone who is prone to milia, Dr. Marchbein adds, you should try a skin-care routine using a combination of noncomedogenic products like the Best of Beauty Award-winning Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, along with a cream or moisturizer containing a retinoid.

Why do I have a hard bump on my face that is not a pimple?

For many people, skin bumps on the face are caused by an acne breakout. But not all bumps are acne. Growths, like moles, cysts, and milia, can form bumps on your face. You can also get cancers on your face.

Will apple cider vinegar get rid of milia?

Using a cotton pad to apply a diluted solution of apple cider vinegar and water to the affected area may help remove dead skin cells and potentially aid in milia resolution. However, be cautious because undiluted apple cider vinegar may irritate the skin.

What moisturizer causes milia?

Heavy or rich face creams can also lead to clogged pores and milia, so if you're dealing with the condition, Dr. Nussbaum recommends switching to a lightweight water-based moisturizer. If you have dry skin and prefer something more, then at least make sure your eye cream is oil-free.

Can you pop milia with a pin?

“People sometimes try to remove milia themselves by popping them as they would pimples,” said Dr. Schiff. “But milia have a very hard texture, and you can't get rid of them without making an incision in the skin.” Trying to pop a milium (one cyst) can lead to scarring.

What is a pimple with a hard white ball inside?

Pustules are a type of pimple that contains yellowish pus. They are larger than whiteheads and blackheads. Home remedies and over-the-counter creams may help treat pustules. Pustules appear either as red bumps with white centers or as white bumps that are hard and often tender to the touch.

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