What are milia and what causes them? It is a frequent query in my dermatology workplace – as a result of milia are frequent. You will get milia at any age, although they change into a extra frequent pores and skin drawback as you become older. I obtained a pleasant query about milia from a reader and thought everybody want to see the reply.
Dermatologist Dr. Cynthia Bailey solutions your questions on what causes milia and the right way to deal with them.
Dr. Bailey, I’m 59 yrs outdated and liable to milia. I even have delicate pores and skin, rosacea, and not too long ago seborrheic dermatitis (facial dandruff). Would you please clarify what causes milia, and one of the best ways to forestall them?
I believe that I get extra milia after I’ve been utilizing suncreens w/ zinc. Is that this attainable, or am I off-base?
My finest protection prior to now has been Retin-A, however my pores and skin has been extra delicate currently.
Thanks, Susan
Pricey Susan,
Milia are small cysts which are really little pockets fashioned out of your prime skin-layer referred to as the dermis. They seem like pinpoint-hard white cysts, typically with a blackhead-like opening to the pores and skin floor. When an individual has lots of them, the pores and skin takes on a cobbled look.
The white materials in a milium (single for milia) is made up of cells from the lifeless pores and skin layer referred to as the stratum corneum.
Do you know that milia don’t kind from a pore?
Milia are usually not clogged pores. They’re only a pocket of regular pores and skin that someway indented, sealed over, and the lifeless cells bought trapped.
Milia often kind spontaneously, not for any cause that we ever work out.
They often happen on the face, however I’ve seen them on the neck, scalp, chest, again, and even the again of the fingers.
The adjustments in pores and skin that happen as a consequence of years of persistent solar injury appear to advertise milia-formation for predisposed individuals.
Milia additionally are likely to happen after a rash or pores and skin damage.
Rosacea and facial dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis) are rashes that may trigger milia to kind.
So are the rashes of allergic reactions and irritation from harsh merchandise.
The easiest way to forestall milia is by utilizing a retinol cream
Retinol helps loosen lifeless cells in order that they do not get trapped and kind a milium. You want a robust retinol night time cream to struggle milia akin to my skilled power Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Evening Cream. Sufferers discover that they really feel the small pre-milia ‘pill-up’ and roll off their pores and skin. Even established small milia could open and fall out. Retinol can also be confirmed to struggle the mobile adjustments of pores and skin growing older, and these also can result in milia.
How do you deal with and forestall milia?
Nothing completely prevents milia from forming if you happen to’re liable to them.
Skincare merchandise that assist to forestall milia
Use every day skincare merchandise that maintain pores and skin exfoliated. Usually, we deal with milia by holding the pores and skin exfoliated, however the exfoliation have to be achieved with out irritating the pores and skin. Skincare merchandise that create chemical exfoliation, akin to Retin A (tretinoin) , a medical grade Retinol Evening Cream, and a medical grade Glycolic Acid Face Cream, often assist scale back the dimensions and variety of milia. These additionally assist to reverse the indicators of pores and skin growing older when utilized in medical grade formulations.
Glycolic acid could not tolerated in case you have delicate pores and skin. Retinol could be difficult too however often is extra profitable.
Get common facials {and professional} exfoliation remedies. Common facials with microdermabrasion or delicate chemical peels typically assist.
Bodily exfoliate and deeply clear pores and skin. Utilizing a facial exfoliating sponge to softly clear and exfoliate your pores and skin may help, too. Harsh bodily exfoliation can result in milia so it is very important exfoliate gently.
Mix these skincare tricks to forestall milia. In my dermatology apply, I assist sufferers make the most of some mixture of those choices that does not irritate their pores and skin as a result of I discover mixture remedy the simplest technique of controlling milia.
What’s milia extraction?
Milia extraction is a process achieved within the dermatology workplace that’s drastically appreciated by anybody who has milia! Current milia that do not reply to exfoliating skincare could be manually extracted in a medical workplace. As a result of the pores and skin over the milia is lanced, care must be taken to forestall a pores and skin an infection.
On this process, the pores and skin over the milia must be disinfected with rubbing alcohol and lanced with a sterile instrument. Then the small deposit of lifeless pores and skin could be gently extracted utilizing a device referred to as a comedone extractor. A comedone extractor is similar device used to extract blackheads. In my workplace, it is a medical process as a result of any puncture of the pores and skin creates the chance of infections.
Additionally, the puncture and subsequent stress with the comedone extractor creates a small wound, and as with all wound, there’s a very small likelihood of leaving a mark or scar after phrases. The underside line is that you really want this achieved by somebody that is aware of what they’re doing!
Can sunscreen trigger milia?
Susan, I used to be not capable of finding any medical reference connecting milia formation with zinc oxide sunscreen.
I have been requested this many occasions and I all the time do a contemporary literature search. There may be nonetheless no scientific proof linking milia and sunscreen use. We all know that sun-damaged pores and skin is liable to milia and so I really suppose that makes zinc oxide sunscreen useful for stopping them in some sense.
In my view, mineral zinc oxide mineral sunscreens present one of the best solar safety for the pores and skin and are due to this fact essential for stopping the pores and skin solar injury that may result in milia. – Dermatologist Dr. Bailey
Because of this utilizing a zinc oxide sunscreen every single day could in the end scale back an individual’s lifetime threat of being a “milia former” since sun-damaged pores and skin is liable to milia.
Greatest facial sunscreens for milia
Make sure that you put on a light-weight facial sunscreen every day. Choose one that will not clog your pores, that you simply love in your pores and skin and that you’re pleased to use every day as a part of your morning skincare routine.
The preferred facial sunscreens in my dermatology apply to forestall facial solar injury that will result in milia:
Sheer Energy Pure Bodily Matte Tinted SPF 30+ Sunscreen. That is my private every day facial sunscreen of all time! The bottom is light-weight and by no means feels heavy on the pores and skin. Iron oxide tinting expertise gently blends into all pores and skin tones – from actually fare to melanin wealthy, this tinting expertise is a pleaser. Know that iron oxide serves an essential function in uniquely additionally blocking seen and digital blue gentle from getting into pores and skin the place it could possibly trigger damaging free radicals and darken pigment pores and skin issues akin to melasma and age spots. Each males and girl love this product, it is ideally suited for shiny complexions because of the matte base and it is an ideal base for make-up.
Sheer Energy Pure Bodily Spray SPF 50+ Sunscreen is good for these not wanting tinting. This product can also be water-proof, making it excellent for sweaty actions and swimming.
Professional-tip for sunscreen reapplication for milia inclined pores and skin:
Sheer Energy Pure Bodily SPF 50 Refresh Sunscreen is the best approach to reapply sunscreen all through the day with out including a layer of liquid product. It is a nice sunscreen tip for milia inclined pores and skin!
All sunscreens are hypoallergenic, perfume free, cruelty free and made in the usA.
I hope this helps!
Heat Regards,
Cynthia Bailey MD, Dermatologist
Disclaimer: Please notice that availing your self of the chance to submit and obtain solutions to your questions from Dr. Bailey doesn’t confer a physician/affected person relationship with Dr. Bailey. The knowledge offered by Dr. Bailey is common well being data impressed by your query. It shouldn’t be an alternative to acquiring medical recommendation out of your doctor and isn’t meant to diagnose or deal with any particular medical drawback (and isn’t an extension of the care Dr. Bailey has offered in her workplace for current sufferers of her apply). By no means ignore your individual physician’s recommendation due to one thing you learn right here; this data is for common informational goal solely.
Writer: Dr. Cynthia Bailey M.D. is a Board Licensed dermatologist working towards dermatology since 1987. She has achieved properly over 200,000 pores and skin exams throughout her profession and authors the longest working doctor written pores and skin well being weblog on the planet.
