They are small white keratin filled cysts. The little white spots appear under the skin like hard white pearls. Keratin is a protein that provides strength to the skin. These small white spots are most commonly found around the eye area and on the lids, cheeks, forehead and nape of neck. Apart from being unsightly and the skin feeling uneven and lumpy, they are completely harmless.
Anyone and at any age can suffer from milia. The condition is common in babies but is short term and disappears in time naturally. However, in teenagers and adults the condition can be more persistent and tricky to treat.
What are the Causes?
The condition is not due to poor hygene or diet. It is caused by skin cells that are trapped and have not exfoliated naturally. It can be caused by products that have clogged the skin such as makeup or heavy creams, particularly sun creams. Choosing skin care and sun creams that are oil-free will help to prevent clogging. Mineral-based foundations that are oil-free are perfect too.
Skin that has been subjected to extreme sun exposure causes the top layer of the skin to thicken and milia can be quite prolific in these conditions.
How Can I Prevent Milia and Treat Existing Milia?
As I have mentioned in previous blog entries, a normal skin should have between eighteen and twenty-three layers of dead skin, but most of us have between forty-five and fifty-five layers. Gentle exfoliation with a facial scrub to the face and neck three times a week will greatly improve the situation and assist in preventing future problems. If you have numerous milia and some quite large spots, a course of in-salon facial peels will be most beneficial. Never attemt to squeeze ou tthe spots as you may cause trauma to the skin resulting in broken veins or infection.
Superficial milia that are just under the skin will eventually come to the surface and exfoliate naturally with the help of facial scrubs, but stubborn, deeper milia can be treated by electroysis using a sterile, minute needle that is introduced into the milia and a low energy current is discharged into the relevant point. This treatment is a totally safe and effective way of eliminating milia. We offer this service at the Hough Green Clinic.
Samantha and I wish everyone a very happy New Year!
