Milia: definition, symptoms, causes, to treatment

Definition

What is milia?

Milia are a group of small bumps, usually white, and clustered a lot on the skin of the face. These white bumps are small cysts that often appear on the cheeks, nose, eyes, and eyelids.

Milia can also be referred to as small cysts. This condition is divided into several types based on age, where it appears and what causes these bumps to appear.

Apart from types, milia are divided into primary or secondary categories. Primary milia are formed directly from keratin trapped under the skin. These primary cysts are usually found on the face of a baby or adult.

While the secondary type has a shape similar to the primary one. However, the secondary type develops after something blocks the duct leading to the surface of the skin, such as after an injury, burn, or blister.

What are the types of milia?

Quoted from Healthline, milia is divided into several types, namely:

1. Neonatal

This type appears in babies after birth. These milia are underdeveloped sweat glands. Plus, this condition occurs in about 50% of babies in the world so it is considered normal and will go away on its own.

2. Primary

This type can appear in children as well as adults. Primary milia often appear on the eyelids, forehead, cheeks or genitals, can occur in children or adults. This condition is not caused by skin damage

3. Secondary or traumatic

This type often appears near wounds, for example, burns or rashes. It also appears after you apply certain types of creams, such as corticosteroid skin creams. Then, these little white bumps can also be caused by excessive sun exposure.

4. En plaque

These tiny cysts, very rare, develop so close together that they look like an elevated skin surface. These types of small cysts are generally lumpy with dead skin.

It generally appears behind the ears, on the eyelids, or on the cheeks or jaw. The type of en plaque tends to affect mainly middle-aged women.

5. Multiple eruptive

This type generally goes away after weeks or months, and is also classified as very rare.

6. Juvenille

This is the type that is caused by a genetic disorder. The following are abnormal conditions that cause it:

• Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome. This syndrome can lead to basal cell carcinoma (BCC).
• Pachyonychia congenita. This condition can cause thick or abnormal nails.
• Gardner Syndrome. This rare genetic disorder can lead to colon cancer over time.
• Bazex-Dupré-Christol syndrome. This syndrome affects hair growth and the ability to sweat.

How common is this condition?

Milia are very common. Generally affects women more than men and patients of all ages. These small lumps can generally be treated by reducing risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the symptoms of milia?

The common symptoms of milia are not serious because they go away on their own after some time.

• The presence of small white bumps on the face
• Lumps that appear along the cheeks, nose, and chin
• Pearl-like white bumps on the gums or roof of the mouth.

Primary milia in infants usually appear 1-2 bulges around the nose, eyes, cheeks, chin, and forehead. These bumps can also appear on the trunk, legs, arms, penis, and mucous membranes.

Reporting from the Mayo Clinic, this condition can sometimes be seen on the roof of a baby's mouth and is called Epstein pearl. Sometimes, these bumps can present with other skin conditions such as acne in babies.

Some of the other symptoms or signs may not be listed above. If you feel anxious about these symptoms, consult your doctor immediately.

When to go to the doctor

If you have any of the above signs or symptoms or have any questions, please consult your doctor. This is often not a serious condition.

Talk to your doctor about the best solution for your situation.

Cause

What causes milia?

The exact cause of milia is not clear. This condition can be caused by underdeveloped sweat glands in children and babies. The cause of milia in newborns is unknown. Often mistaken for baby acne, which is triggered by hormones from the mother.

Unlike baby acne, milia doesn't cause inflammation or swelling. Babies who have milia are usually born with it, whereas baby acne doesn't appear until two to four weeks after birth.

Whereas in adults, these tiny white bumps appear when dead skin cells get trapped under the skin. Milia can also develop if the skin loses its natural ability to exfoliate. This can happen due to aging.

In addition, some of this skin damage can be caused due to the following:

• Skin conditions that have abrasions
• You have burns on your skin
• There are blisters on the skin
• Are undergoing skin treatments such as dermabrasion or laser treatments
• Long-term use of steroid creams
• Long-term sun damage.

The use of steroid creams can cause milia on the skin. However, this side effect is rare. Some ingredients in skin care and makeup products can cause milia in some people.

If you have skin prone to small keratin-filled cysts, avoid using the following ingredients on your face:

• liquid paraffin
• liquid petroleum
• paraffin oil
• paraffinum liquidum
• petroleum jelly
• crude oil

These are all types of mineral oil that can cause small, white bumps to appear on the face. Lanolin can also be a trigger for the appearance of this condition on the face.

Risk factors

What increases the risk of milia?

There are many risk factors for milia, namely:

• Not keeping skin clean
• Wearing clothes that are coarse in texture
• Frequent exposure to sunlight
• If you have a skin condition, skin rash, blisters on the skin, this can also be the cause of milia.

If you have pimples and blackheads, you may also be at risk of developing milia. Also, these tiny white bumps can develop even if you don't have acne, aka no skin problems. This is a perfectly normal condition.

Although these bumps often fall into the comedonal acne category, they are different from acne. Blackhead pimples can develop when skin pores become clogged.

Meanwhile, this condition is a small cyst that occurs just below the top layer of the skin, and not inside the pore. Milia disappearance also tends to take much longer than regular acne.

If acne goes away in a matter of days or weeks, milia can be months or even years.

Drugs & Medicines

The information described is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is milia diagnosed?

A doctor can make a diagnosis just by looking directly at your skin. However, in some cases, if the diagnosis is uncertain or if an en plaque is suspected, the doctor may recommend a skin biopsy.

A skin biopsy is an easy and painless examination procedure. This procedure is performed by doctors by examining small sensory nerves in the skin. This nerve functions to transmit information about the pain and temperature felt by the skin

These types of nerves are often involved in several health conditions that damage peripheral nerves (neuropathies). This test also allows the doctor to find nerves and see how many of them are present and whether they are healthy. Indirectly, when the nerves under the skin are damaged, this will be visible under a microscope.

How is milia treated?

Milia in children do not need to be treated because they go away on their own after a few months in the baby's life. Adults also do not need a special way to get rid of milia.

However, in the case of rare types of milia, such as the type of en plaque, the doctor may do a way to get rid of this condition by prescribing a cream made from isotretinoin or tretinoin. In addition, another way to get rid of this type of milia is with a cream made from minocycline as an anti-infective agent.

If these small cysts become enlarged and interfere with your appearance, please ask your doctor for further treatment. Since this small lump is difficult to remove when poked or squeezed, it requires doctor's action.

The doctor will perform several ways to remove milia which are generally considered safe because there is no need for anesthesia. This procedure for treating how to get rid of milia must be done in a hospital by a dermatologist.

It is forbidden to try the procedure to remove milia yourself at home, as it may result in infection and scarring. Some of the ways to get rid of milia include:

• Cryotherapy

This is a technique of removing milia that is done by freezing the skin with keratin-filled cysts.

Doctors often use this method to remove en plaque type milia. After that, the doctor will usually remove the milia by giving a medicated cream or antibiotic called minocycline.

• Facial with a dermatologist

Facial can be done as a way to get rid of milia. This method is done by removing the milia from the skin.

To be safe, it's a good idea to do facials at a beauty clinic with a doctor or certified therapist. In the facial procedure, the cyst will be made a small hole with a small scalpel.

In time, the hard blockage forming the milia will be gently pushed out through your fingers or using a tool. This is known as the blackhead extraction process. This procedure for removing milia is sometimes also referred to as de-roofing.

Even though it sounds terrible from using a knife, some people say that this one method of getting rid of milia doesn't hurt. In fact, dermatologists who extract blackheads don't even need anesthesia to endure the pain of the jab.

• Use a retinoid cream

If you are prone to this skin problem, your doctor will generally recommend that you use a retinoid cream that is applied to the problematic area of ​​the face.

Retinoid creams can be a way to get rid of milia by helping the skin exfoliate effectively. When dead skin cells are shed off and don't build up, this can help prevent keratin congestion from getting stuck under the surface of the skin.

In addition, retinoid creams also help loosen the keratin plugs on the milia that are on your face. This retinoid cream as well and helps keratin blockage rise to the surface of the face so that it can easily come out or disappear on its own.

• Use drugs sold at pharmacies

For initial conditions, you can treat these small white cysts on the face by using drugs sold in pharmacies. Check the BPOM drug number and buy it at the pharmacy, not just anywhere. Ask your pharmacist how to use and what dosage is safe to get rid of milia.

Generally, milia drugs that are sold in pharmacies contain several substances that are salicylic acid and glycolic acid that are sold freely. In addition, the medication for Differin type acne (adapalene) can also help with this condition. These products can be a way of removing milia by exfoliating the skin.

If there are only a few small white bumps on your face, it's best to first use a drug that is sold at a pharmacy. Although it does not go away overnight, this drug if used routinely can be one way to get rid of milia.

Basically, milia is a skin problem that is difficult to get rid of and requires patience in its treatment.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can treat milia?

There is no way to prevent milia. However, there are some home remedies that can prevent and help. A number of home remedies can help get rid of milia.

Although there is no specific drug as proven to get rid of milia quickly, these ways you can do:

• Always wash your face to clean the areas affected by dust and dirt every day.
• Use a soap that is safe and not harsh to prevent skin irritation.
• Steam your face by turning your face into a container filled with warm water. You can also take a warm bath to open the pores of the face and make the skin oil out naturally.
• Exfoliate regularly, for example once a week. However, avoid exfoliating excessively, as exfoliating every day can irritate the skin.
• Use sunscreen every day, 10 minutes before going outside. A sunscreen with a high SPF may help prevent overexposure to UV rays
• Use a topical retinoid cream for acne. Retinoid creams are creams or gels that are derived from vitamin A. While they are designed to treat acne and other skin problems, there is little evidence that they are effective in treating milia.
• Several studies have shown that rose, cinnamon, and honey extracts have antibacterial properties that can treat several skin problems. However, there has been no research on their effectiveness against the condition of small, white bumps on the face.
• Avoid pricking or squeezing these white bumps. This can increase the risk of infection and can lead to scarring on the face
• If your condition doesn't improve within a few weeks, contact your doctor. This is done to ensure that the small bumps are not the result of another skin condition.

Hello Health Group does not provide health advice, diagnosis or treatment.