Milia – not as pretty as it sounds
Recently, I got spots under my eyes. Just little teeny white dots just under the skin. I figured they’d go away. Well, I self-diagnosed, and I’m convinced it’s milia (aka milk spots or oil seeds).
wikipedia suggests milia can be caused by harsh face washes or repeated hot showering by those with sensitive skin. Another website says milia can also be caused by sun damage, dermabrasion, topical steroid creams, and other skin trauma.
Whatever the cause, it is fairly common among adults. And the important thing to know is that they are not pop-able. You can’t remove them at home without risking scarring. Go to a doctor or skin specialist for removal or treatment.
Has anyone had them or had them removed? I’d like to hear any advice or experiences you’ve had.
D5 Creation
DermNetNZ (an excellent source of dermatological information) has a little bit about milia on their cysts page.
Particularly, it says “milia can easily be squeezed out”, but if you’re concerned about scarring, I guess you should get a doctor to do that.
I saw that site and thought that advice was exceptionally poor. Babies and children scar more readily than adults. You shouldn’t pop babies’ milia. In adults milia often occurs on the eyelids – you can’t pop them suckers if you tried.
I had a milia on my eyelid.
When I first went to the doctor about it (thinking my doc would be able to pop it easily)she said “don’t worry, it’s not cancer, or anything”. To which i responded “I didn’t think it was…but NOW I do”.
anyway, she referred me to a dermatologist, I think, who took it out in a matter of minutes. It was slightly uncomfortable – at one point he has his knee up on the table thing and it felt like he was digging it out of my eyelid, but I don’t remember it being painful.
I recently saw a skin specialist for a mole map and I have a couple of milia on my face that she commented on.
She said that I could safely remove them myself, using a clean needle and opening the skin at the top (sorry, sounds gross), then gently squeezing them out.
I’ve done this before and haven’t had any scarring. But if you have any concerns, I’d see someone about your one.
I’ve read somewhere that fairer haired people tend to be more likely to get them. Not sure how true that is, but I’m fair and I’ve had them on and off for most of my adult life.
is that what that little white bump is on my eyelid! i have always wondered, but never gotten around to doing anything about… thanks
and i am fair haired/blonde as well, so that kinda helps with the theory perhaps?
Yeah, i am (naturally) kind of fair haired. And very pale skinned, so yeah, that makes sense.
I’ve had em, too! Just a few in my late teens. Just used a needle like Kaz did, and didn’t have any scarring at all, even though I’m prone to that kind of thing. Plus it was nice to not have to see them anymore! Even though they were pretty small, they bugged me.
Okay… you girls have been talking about fair skin.. I’m a red head and have had milia for a while now..But it sounds worse than yours.. Mine are all over my face..I’ve been to several dermotologist.. and never walk away truly satisfied.. I’ve had several painful chemical peels done..while that helps it.. it doesnt cure it… Does anyone have any answers for a SERIOUS milia cure?
Sorry Dominique, my milia actually disappeared by itself. Have your dermotolgists suggested why you might get them? Because I do remember reading a list of possible causes, like showers that are too hot and facial scrubs and stuff. Not sure if they really are causes in a scientific sense, but if you could look at ways of preventing them instead of treating it may help…???
Also, I love redheads.. literally. My boyfriend has beautiful red hair – count yourself lucky in that respect
Amy…. well yes and no my dermotologist listed a million different things… sunlight, diet, or just herditary… which i dont think it is because everyone in my family has perfect skin..literally..People also say that it could be the fact that im a red head.. yet i have many friends with red hair and they have no idea what milia even is.. your so lucky yours “just went away” I will keep looking up information to see about what I need to do… Hopefully this is something that can be fixed
[...] milia Just wanting to draw your attention to Dominique’s plea for advice about milia. See her comments for this post. If you’ve conquered milia and have any tips please leave a comment… no [...]
I heard that milia are caused by using a too heavy moisturiser. I switched to a lighter one (Antipodes rejoice) and they have gone away…
No one could help me with mine, because I dug mine out with my finger nails. Now I have sores and sometimes get real dry and irritated, and when they scab over, sometimes the scabs get ripped off in the shower, or I’ll accidently scratch myself and hit one and open it back up, and the healing process is constantly repeated. Now I’m getting keloids on a couple of them. Some have healed but left behind dark spots. Do I still have a chance to get rid of the scars and dark spots?
Chemical Peels may be dangerous specially if you use those high concentrations of Glycolic Acid.,:;
Oh gosh!! Wish I would’ve read this 5 minutes ago. I have a 10 day old baby boy that was born w/ milia on his nose. My husband and I are zit-freaks in the sense that we love popping them. I just popped my baby’s nose milia and it worked (he didn’t cry), but now I’m afraid of scaring!! What can I do to prevent scars or them returning??
Milia are plugs of sebum and dead cells trapped beneath the surface. Beauty therapists can remove them. The skin is usually softened by a steamer, then the skin gently pierced and the plugs comes away.
Be careful if you do it yourself. Hygiene is super important to avoid infection.
I popped milia on my face and now I have scars. I wish I would have just left them alone. Now I have scars that are more visible and want to get rid of these scars, but not very hopeful that I can. Everytime I’ve tried to do something aesthetically for myself it’s been a mistake so maybe I’ll just leave the scars alone too.
Im 13 and I have had milia for a while…I dont know if I should treat it or just leave it. i have quite a bit of it…my friends at school make fun of it. I wear makeup and when I dont wear the makeup my milia goes away a bit. I just need someone to tell me what to do!
Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an extremely long comment but after I
clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyway, just wanted to say great blog!
I have a friend with quite a serius milia under the eyes area. i firstly wonder how did it come out.. Until last month, for the first time i beauty conciously went to buy an eye cream for myself to prevent puffy eyes.
Unexpectedly, after few days using- i saw one white spot like milia near my left eye. i kept on using it without thinking anything. then last few days i saw another one appears..
then i realized n im sure that is milia n i stopped using the eye cream.
fyi- my friend’s hair n mine is black since we r malaysian
n milia is well known as oil seed at my place.
after doing some reading- milia is caused by to rich oily cream for oily skin like me.( as our eyes is super sensitive)
n lucky for me- this morning i wake up without any milia anymore. it dissappear after few days not using the cream. thank god
unlucky for my friend- she just knew what caused of her milia
-just to share my experience-
So I’m now over 22, dealing with milia now for a couple years…. I have been to a dermetoligst for a chemical face peel do to my horrible acne and just a little milia. I still noticed everything the same even after doing that and washing/tone/cleanseing daily, my acne actually got worse. I do have very oily skin, so I don’t wear lotion:when I do notice a little dryness on my cheeks ill apply just a pea-sized amt on them… But as far as the acne, I addressed my problems with my M.D. and she precribed me a 5% ointment/cream and I use this daily and it workd and took away all acne… BUT my MILIA HAS WORSENED..it wasn’t only where it began on my upper left eyelid but after seeing the dermo reviving the chemical face peel, IT IS NOW ALL OVER MY UPPER AREA ON LEFT CHEEK!! Nothing has helped and all I wish for is to have a clean face.
I don’t ever think its not going to be pretty…DO ANYONE HAVE ANY ADVICE ON HOW TO CLEAR UP MY MILIA?????????
Dear Sandra , why dont u go to beauty therapist instead of going to the doctor.
I read that milia can be removed by small surgery.
u r lucky ur acne has gone. I am 31 years old and I have acne since like forever. Like u, all I ever wanted is to have a clean face
Can u pls share with me the 5% cream that prescibed by ur doctor that stop ur misery of acne? really appreciate it. thanks
I just had mine squeezed today. It doesn’t hurt much at all just kind of like getting your ears pierced multiple times (depending on the size of the milia) I haven’t had them all cleared succesfully because some were too small but you will get little red bumps. These dissapear very quickly it could take from one day to one week.
I just thought I would add to this blog, as I have had a Milia for about 5 months it appeared just under my left eye and has been really bugging me. I have read up about it and I was planning on going to have it removed by a dermatologist but as I was sitting here a few moments ago, I had a small itch under my left eye, so I used one of my finger nails to scratch the area and the next thing I could feel a kind of relief and a tiny little white ball was sitting on the end of my finger nail! So went to the mirror and YAY, Millia gone. I am very pleased and also wondering if the contributing factor to this resolved Milia is the fact that I changed my face cream yesterday! Seems to soon to have had a reaction, my previous day/night cream was very thick/heavy so maybe the change has made the skin able to rid itself of this little bump! I am a brunette and otherwise have very clear good skin.
went to a beauty spa before
to do a facial
it hurts like heck
first, removing the white bumps
that was easy.
but, i have a terrible case of milia
i have it since i was a kid
so, i guess some of it was covered up with another skin (couldn’t explain it well)
but, i had to do laser treatments as well