Milia

Milia are a collection of small, hard white spots also known as milk spots.  In fact, these white spots are tiny cysts that are located immediately below the outer layer of skin, making them clearly visible.

The white colour comes from an excess build-up of keratin, a natural part of the skin, also found in nails and hair.

Milia are often mistaken for whiteheads, which leads to futile attempts to squeeze them.   They can be difficult to remove and become permanent or grow larger.

What Causes Milia?

It’s not clear why milia come about in adults.  They don’t seem to be related to diet, lifestyle or health issues.

Although they’re not a medical risk, they age the skin and most people who get these little white lumps would prefer that they weren’t there.

What Do Milia Look Like?

They are usually very small, white or flesh-coloured lumps, which are firm to the touch.

They are distinguishable from spots and pimples as they don’t have a head and can’t be squeezed.  They’re not usually inflamed or painful.

Typically, Milia appear on the skin around the eyes in groups, and single milium can occur on other parts of the face, or even on the body.

Treatments For Milia

The simplest type of milia removal is carried out using a tiny, sterile needle.

The needle is used to create a tiny incision in the skin covering the cyst. The contents of the cyst are then carefully extracted so as not to cause any trauma to the skin.

Some types of milia may be more suitable for removal using the Plasma Pen. This cauterizes the skin covering the milia, allowing the contents to then be extracted.

It can be useful to prepare your skin before your treatment by using a non-abrasive exfoliating cleanser on a regular basis. This helps to soften the skin that covers the cyst, making it easier to remove and can also help prevent further milia developing.

Not sure which treatment is right for you?

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