However, treatment for milia isnt necessary.
Milia often go away in a few weeks or months.
You may decide to have milia removed if you dont like how they look.
Illustration by Zoe Hansen for Verywell Health
Milia can be hard to get rid of, however, and may need to be treated for months.
These milia removal strategies are for adults only.
Bumps that appear on newborns (neonatal milia or milk spots) do not need to be treated.
They will typically go away on their own in a few weeks.
Products meant to treat adult skin can be harmful to newborn skin.
Illustration by Zoe Hansen for Verywell Health
1.
OTC milia removal products include:
Youll need to use these products long term to see continued results.
Can You Pop Milia?
Although milia and pimples might seem similar, they are different.
Milia form under a thin layer of skin and not in apore.
That means there is no opening in the skin to squeeze the plug out.
Never make a run at pop or otherwise extract milia yourself.
It wont work, and it can cause infection, serious skin damage, and even permanent scarring.
The most effective treatment for milia is manual extraction done by a qualified provider.
A tiny opening is made on the skins surface with asmall surgical blade (lancet).
This may sound painful, but its not.
At worst, youll feel a little prick.
The results of manual extraction for milia are immediate.
The procedure, sometimes called deroofing, is usually done by a dermatologist.
The skin of your eyelid is very sensitive, so do not venture to remove milia from it yourself.
See a dermatologist or anophthalmologistfor manual extraction.
Topical Retinoids
For milia removal, your dermatologist may recommend using a prescriptiontopical retinoid.
Topical retinoids exfoliate the skin more effectively than OTC products.
They also loosen thekeratinplug in milia, helping it come to the surface and go away.
Curettage
Electrodesiccationandcurettageis a surgery that uses electricity to scrape off the skin.
Its mainly used to treatskin cancer, but some providers use it to treat stubborn milia.
This procedure is performed by a dermatologist or other healthcare provider.
Youll need to keep the wound covered as it heals.
However, the procedure usually leaves behind a small white mark (hypopigmentation).
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapyis a treatment that uses frigid temperatures from liquid nitrogen to freeze off skin.
It is a common treatment performed by a dermatologist for many skin problems.
Usually the liquid nitrogen is sprayed onto the skin.
However, some dermatologists use a swab to apply it.
In either case, the result is the same.
Laser Ablation/Resurfacing
Laser ablation/resurfacinguses small lasers to remove the outer areas of the skin.
It is also called laser peel, laser vaporization, and lasabrasion.
This procedure is extremely precise in treating blemishes.
The laser sends pulsating beams of light to remove unwanted, damaged skin.
Unlike some other laser procedures, laser skin resurfacing typically doesnt cause areas of lighter skin.
Chemical Peels
Achemical peelis when a chemical solution is applied to the skin.
It exfoliates and eventually causes the skin to fall off.
Superficial or mild chemical peels may be used to remove milia.
However, not all chemical peels are advised for milia removal.
Medium and deep chemical peels can actually cause milia as a side effect.
What are milia?
Eventually, these dead cells harden and form small cysts known as milia.
Some types of milia are due to skin damage from rash, injury, or the sun.
Milia can also be triggered by genetic orautoimmune conditions.
If they bother you, you might try at-home exfoliating products.
Never venture to extract milia on your own.
Milia can’t be popped, and attempting to remove them yourself can cause complications like a skin infection.
USF Health.What are milia and how do you get rid of them?
2021;7(5Part B):867].Int J Womens Dermatol.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Cryosurgery (cryotherapy).
American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Laser skin resurfacing.
2018;11(8):21-28.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What are milia?
