What is it?
Milia are small white bumps in or under the skin, filled with hardened sebum. They develop when sebaceous or sweat glands become blocked and are often found on the cheekbones or around the eyes.
They are harmless, but rarely disappear on their own. They can be removed well with a deep cleanse or coagulation.
Why do you get them?
Often there is no clear cause and they simply appear. Newborn babies get them quite often too; in babies they usually disappear within a few weeks. In adults, milia sometimes develop after damage to the skin, such as a blister, a burn or bad sunburn. A rich, heavy cream around the eyes can also play a part.
Squeeze them yourself? Better not
A blackhead has an opening to the surface; milia do not. Squeezing mainly damages the skin around them. Around the eyes that skin is thin, and the risk of a red mark, an infection or a small scar is high.
How we remove them
Using a very fine, sterile needle, the skin therapist makes a tiny opening in the skin above the bump. The milium can then be gently pressed out. For some we use coagulation. You are left with a small red dot that disappears after a few days.
How we approach it
Every treatment plan starts with a free 30-minute intake. Your skin therapist examines your skin and discusses what you would like to achieve. We then draw up a treatment plan together. Sometimes one treatment is enough, sometimes we combine two. You also receive advice on caring for your skin at home.
Frequently asked questions
Do milia come back?
A milium that has been removed does not come back. New ones can appear, especially if you are prone to them. It helps to use a light cream around the eyes and to exfoliate the skin gently and regularly. This blog post explains how.
Does removal hurt?
You feel a small prick, a bit like a pinprick. No anaesthetic is needed.
Can they be removed during the intake?
Sometimes. If the skin therapist sees at the intake that they are milia and there is time, they can be removed straight away. Otherwise we plan a separate appointment.
Treatments
Suitable treatments
Which treatment works best for you depends on your skin. These are the treatments we use most often for this concern.
Acne therapy
A personal approach to acne with deep cleansing, peels and LED. For acne on the face, often covered by supplementary insurance.
View treatment →
Removal of benign skin lesions
Skin tags, milia, seborrhoeic warts or a broken capillary: lesions like these have usually gone after one or two treatments.
View treatment →Questions about milia? We are happy to help.
Book a free intake. We look at your skin and tell you honestly what we can do for you.