Have you developed small, whitish bumps on your face? These bumps may be milia, which are small bumps that contain keratin, a skin protein. You’ve likely seen milia on babies’ skin. Milia is very common in infants because their skin is still learning to slough off dead skin cells.
While milia are common in infants, adults can get it too. Read on to see why you might get Milia and how to treat the issue.
What Are the Main Reasons Adults Get Milia?
Milia can be divided into different categories: primary, secondary, milia en plaque (MEP), and Multiple Eruptive Milia (MEM). Adults can experience all these categories depending on lifestyle factors or genetics. Discover a few reasons why you might get Milia.
You Have a Genetic Predisposition or Undiagnosed Condition
Do any of your other family members have Milia? If so, you may just have a familial predisposition to them. The MEM category is mainly associated with genetic predispositions. However, MEM can also be a symptom of undiagnosed skin conditions, like trichoepithelioma — a skin condition that causes tumors in hair follicles and sweat glands.
Have you experienced other symptoms besides milia? You could have an undiagnosed condition, like discoid lupus, that could cause MEP. You’ll want to visit your doctor to rule out any other health issues.
You Have Experienced Sun Damage
You probably already know that you should wear sunblock to protect your skin from aging and to reduce the risk of skin cancer. However, sun damage can be a contributing factor to secondary milia.
Secondary milia are cysts that develop because of skin trauma (like sunburns), and the skin is too leathery and dehydrated for dead cells to rise to the surface and slough off.
If you have spent a lot of time in the sun without protecting yourself, make sure you wear a hat, sunblock, and other protective gear.
You Use the Wrong Products
While secondary milia are from skin trauma, primary milia are just from clogged pores. Primary milia can be seen on your face — especially around the eye region. While you need to keep your skin hydrated with good skincare products, some people use the wrong products around their eyes.
Keep in mind that, unlike the rest of your skin, the eye has limited circulation and no oil glands, so heavy creams won’t absorb properly, and they could clog pores in this area.
Keep in mind that everyone has naturally different skin types (oily, dry, or a combination), so if you over dry your skin or make it too oily, you could increase the chances of milia. You should ask a dermatologist to recommend products for your skin type.
Your Stress Affects Your Skin
Are you stressed out or getting poor sleep? When you are stressed out, your immune system can weaken and make you more vulnerable not only to illness but to certain skin conditions like milia. Stress can cause an increase in the hormone cortisol, which, in turn, triggers your skin to produce more sebum — a natural oil that can increase the risk of acne, clogged pores, and milia.
How Can a Dermatologist Help?
You may want to visit your dermatologist for a chemical peel. A chemical peel can deeply exfoliate your skin and open up pores that may be clogged with keratin. However, if your milia is from sunburn, you should wait to get this procedure done until your skin heals so that you don’t over dry your skin.
Besides chemical peels, a dermatologist can use sterile needles and blades to carefully open up the milia and extract the cyst. While you may be tempted to use a needle at home, you could get an infection from improper sterilization or leave a scar from improper extraction technique.
Also, your dermatologist can prescribe creams and other hygiene products good for your skin type. If your milia is a side effect of another health condition or medication, getting the primary condition under control could decrease the incidence of milia.
Reach out to us at Advanced Dermatology & Skin Cancer Specialists for more inform
