WHAT ARE MILIA?
Milia are what occurs when sebum and dead skin cells become trapped in the outer layers of the skin. After a while, they keratinise, meaning that they gather keratin and then harden. Keratin is an essential structural protein of the skin, and looks out for our skin all of the time. Keratin is the culprit of the physical bump. A dermatologist can also help in milia removal if they are irritated or if they bother you cosmetically.
What do Milia look like?
Milia are the type of pearl you don’t necessarily want near your face. They are usually small, round little bumps and they are completely benign. They look a little bit like a regular whitehead but further into the skin and usually are not accompanied by the ring of redness that a whitehead would be. You are likely to get them in multiples, rather than one milium.
Milia lookalikes
- Acne can be a milia lookalike, especially the mild stage 1 acne that can be found on the forehead, as it is usually small and pearly.
- Seeing as milia are a type of cyst, it is understandable that they can be confused with very, very small epidermal cysts as they look essentially the same.
- Syringoma are benign growths that appear very similar to milia as white, yellow or flesh-coloured bumps on the skin. However, syringoma are usually deep into the skin and more difficult to treat. They are permanent and stubbornly recurrent. A medical practitioner will be able to tell you whether your bumps are milia or syringoma.
Can Milia be prevented?
On the outside: Keeping the skin well-exfoliated may stop the build-up of dead skin cells that lead to the formation of milia. Products that include acids are the best for exfoliation, ie. lactic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid. If you get a lot of milia, retinol or retinoids may be a good shout. These vitamin-A-derived ingredients speed up the rate of cell renewal so that dead skin cells are being shed a little bit faster, thus leaving none to become trapped and collect keratin. I’d be inclined to tell people to steer clear of retinols or retinoids unless deemed absolutely necessary, as it can be a relatively harsh treatment.
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