Milia are tiny white “bumps” that soooo many people get on their face (especially around the eye area). So, what are they? It’s the results of skin cells getting trapped under the surface of the skin. These skin cells are not exfoliating naturally, or we may be overlooking a certain area of the face when we use our at-home exfoliant.
We often see them around the eye for a few reasons. One- we often hesitate to exfoliate around the eyes in an effort to avoid burning. Two- many eye makeup removers contain mineral oil (which is known for clogging the pores). Three- for us girls, we often wear shimmery eye makeup that tends to fall and settle just underneath our eyes. If we aren’t properly cleansing and exfoliating it off, that “shimmer” can cause a buildup!
Prolonged sun exposure can also cause milia. The sun can thicken the outer layer of skin, making it hard for skin cells to work their way out of your pores.
Unfortunately, sometimes genetics can be the cause of your bumps. If you have family members with the same problem, there might not be much you can do to prevent milia (but a proper exfoliating routine never hurts)!
Here are a few tips to help treat milia:
- Exfoliate! That doesn’t mean scrub your skin with exfoliating beads…look into hydroxy acid exfoliants. They can help keep the follicles clean, therefore preventing cell buildup.
- Keep skin clean. Be careful not to overlook any areas of the face…especially around the eyes!
- Avoid using heavy products. They can trap skin cells, especially if those heavy products contain comedogenic or irritating ingredients (like mineral oil, lanolin, SD Alcohol, etc.)
- Re-evaluate your current products. Look at where you are experiencing milia and think about any products that could be causing the problem. For example, if they are focused around the forehead, maybe your hairspray or gel is the culprit. If you have milia around the lip, try switching to a different brand of lipstick or chapstick.
How can you remove current milia? We definitely don’t recommend picking at them at home- improper technique can cause them to enlarge or become irritated. Microdermabrasions can help smooth them out. Exfoliating at home (especially with Vitamin A) can help loosen the trapped cells, but most of the time it’s best to have a dermatologist professionally remove them.
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