Have you ever noticed strange white dots on your face? They're called milia (singular: millium), and they're more prevalent than you think. These small, benign keratin-filled cysts are very common on babies (half of all newborns are born with them), and they afflict the faces of many adults. "Think of them as pimples with nowhere to go," says New York City-based dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D. Unlike regular pimples and blemishes, the keratin in these tiny cysts is trapped without an opening, so you can't pop them!
HOW DOES MILIA FORM?
Milia isn’t genetic, but dermatologists know of two types that can develop on the cheeks and around the eyes. Primary milia forms when keratin gets trapped under the skin without injury, “where there are high concentrations of sweat glands," says Dr. Zeichner. Secondary milia is a result of an injury that blocks skin ducts. "Skin on the cheeks and around the eyes is easily damaged by sunburn or friction, which can lead to trauma, and eventually, milia.”
HOW DO YOU TREAT MILIA?
If you suffer from these pesky (yet harmless) white dots, how do you get rid of them for good? Laser resurfacing treatments such as Fraxel can help reduce milia, but there are many less expensive alternatives to consider before you splurge.
"First, don’t try popping milia at home!" advises Dr. Zeichner. "Picking can lead to inflammation and permanent scarring." If you choose to visit the dermatologist, they can manually drain the cyst with a needle and a comedone extractor. For a more drastic approach, a trained professional may use an electrocautery—an electric needle tip that carefully burns the spot without scarring.
If you're looking for a simple at-home regimen, incorporate physical and chemical exfoliators into your routine to slough off accumulated dead skin. “Depending on your preference, you can physically exfoliate with a skin cleansing brush or microdermabrasion kit, or try a chemical glycolic acid wash,” says Dr. Zeichner. However, Dr. Zeichner mentions the best overall treatment for milia is preventative care. "Sunscreen can prevent burns that may predispose your skin to secondary milia," says Dr. Zeichner. "And in addition to the anti-aging benefits, a strict topical retinoid regimen can increase cell turnover, preventing new milia from forming."
BEAUTYLISH RECOMMENDS
Joshua Zeichner, MD FAAD, is an Assistant Professor at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan and board-certified in Dermatology.
As the Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in the Dermatology Department, Dr. Zeichner is actively involved in clinical trials for all skin conditions including acne, psoriasis, eczema/atopic dermatitis, and actinic keratoses/skin cancer. For more skin care tips, follow Dr. Zeichner on Twitter @JoshZeichnerMD.
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Comments
Apr 10, 2013
Kittehchubs x.
I got one under my eye after trying out an eye cream. Wasn't sure what it was until I did some research online.I especially avoided popping it in fear it would get worse or cause more to come up! My mom always raves about aloe vera and how good it is for so many things I thought I'd try it out on my eye.after applying aloe once at night for two days it was gone! a true miracle!there were no signs of it ever being there I was so happy!:D if your desperate like me and want to go a natural route I highly recommend using pure aloe vera. you could probably find a plant with a neighbor or buy a leaf for cheap at Hispanic supermarkets in produce section.never using eye creams again XP.
Dec 27, 2012
Hillary H.
i got rid of mine with a needle and a ring tool for acne. took a nice warm shower pierced the top layer of skin and used the ring tool to guide out the issue and then washed my face with cleanser and finished off with cool water. no blood and so far no return.
Jul 19, 2012
Brittany Y.
I had one under my eye for years and I hated it so much! I eventually just got use to it being there and one day realized it was gone. It's one of the unsolved mysteries of my skin.
Mar 05, 2012
Mina N.
thanks for this! i've always had them and i didn't know how to get rid of them! weird.. but i usually use my face wash under my eyes (gently patted over just to remove left over make up) but they never seem to go away.. on top of eyebags! boo!
Mar 04, 2012
brooke and betsy m.
i thought they were for your lashes
Mar 04, 2012
Carmel M.
I also wasn't aware of what the white dots under my eyes
Were. Recently had micro treatment which reduce them for
A while but have come back. Also heard eye cream make them worst and should
Always use a eye gel instead of cream.
Mar 04, 2012
Elaina Y.
I have them on both my eyes, I notice I get more when an eye cream that I use is too rich for my skin. I've also heard from someone I know who layered them off saying that it creates a lot of small wrinkles below your eye and it's quite painful to remove.
Mar 04, 2012
Tracy A.
I used to have them until I started using Mary Kay products.. specifically the Timewise Cleanser..it has an exfoliant in it.. and the Microdermabrasion set a couple times a week. They are GONE...also had some other "weird spots" on my face and they cleared up too
Mar 03, 2012
Xuan N.
can't they go away on their own too? I started getting a couple under my eyes when I started using 'anti-wrinkle" eye cream- I think it was too thick or strong for my skin, but when I started apply less/none at all, they went away.
Mar 03, 2012
Christina L.
Thank you for this article!!!!! I've had these little bumps near my right eye for a few years now and could never figure out what they were, how to treat them or how to prevent them.