Almost all of us have experienced them at one time or another. Tiny, raised, hard white bumps on your face or body that mar your complexion and cause annoyance, anger, and frustration with your skin’s appearance.
So, what exactly are those bumps?
Milia are small (usually 1-2 millimeters in diameter), hard, raised bumps that typically appear on the face (especially the cheeks and nose), neck, and back. Milia occur when the hair follicle of a pore becomes clogged with oil or keratinized (dead) skin cells, and then the clogged pore swells into a bump. Keratin, a type of protein found in hair, skin, and nails, is very strong, and it’s what gives milia that hard, raised appearance and feel.
Essentially, milia are tiny cysts. Unfortunately, many sufferers mistakenly diagnose milia as whiteheads, and try to attack this common skin woe with overly harsh chemicals and cleansing procedures that do nothing to address and combat the true root cause of milia.
What causes milia?
Milia can appear on anyone’s skin, at any age, and even commonly appear on babies. However, there are several genetic and lifestyle factors that increase the likelihood of milia. Cigarette smokers may suffer from higher rates of milia, as well as teenagers caught in the throes of adolescent hormonal swings and increased sebum production.
Another culprit? Increased exposure to sun or sun-damaged (i.e. sunburned) skin, especially over prolonged periods of time. Additionally, anyone suffering from a blistering rash, like poison ivy, may find milia to be another unpleasant side effect. Heavy makeup wearers, or anyone slathering on thick, oil-based products, may also deal with more frequent milia outbursts as well.
However, the singular, root cause behind all milia – regardless of age, genetics, or lifestyle factors – is improperly exfoliated skin.
How to treat milia?
If you’re experiencing milia, there are two important actions to take. First and foremost, resist the temptation to pick, poke, or prod the bumps. Milia are formed underneath the skin, so picking at the bumps will do nothing but create a red spot around the bump and possibly damage your skin even more. Plus, picking at the bumps can allow bacteria to invade the clogged cell or, even worse, rupture the clogged hair follicle – creating the perfect environment for an angry, painful, and inflamed pimple.
Aside from leaving the bumps alone, the second and most important step to take to remove milia is to find, purchase, and use over-the-counter products that gently exfoliate skin. The key ingredient to look for in your new exfoliation product? Glycolic acid.
Here’s why: Glycolic acid is one of the most effective and efficient ingredients to use for exfoliating skin. Its tiny Alpha Hydroxy Acid molecules penetrate and dissolve the outermost (and usually most damaged) layer of skin cells. Once glycolic acid sweeps away those dead, damaged cells, newer and healthier skin cells can move to the top of the epidermis. The end result? Smoother skin, free of clogged pores and their subsequent bumps.
Luckily for consumers, glycolic acid is one of the most popular additions to add into exfoliating products, and is found in everything from facial washes to toners to overnight serums (and for help finding a great, exfoliating glycolic acid product, check out this list).
Keep it gentle!
It’s also important to remember that when dealing with milia, the name of the game is long-term, gentle exfoliation. Once the root cause of milia is understood, many will overdo their exfoliation efforts and turn to overly harsh scrubs or homemade, kitchen sink concoctions containing salt or sugar, to try and speed up milia removal. However, these over-the-top efforts do more harm than good.
A more gentle exfoliation, like those induced by products with the non-irritating ingredient glycolic acid, will help avoid angering the skin further or creating increased inflammation, which large-particle scrubs can cause. Additionally, the continued use of an over-the-counter, glycolic acid-packed product means skin will be continually exfoliated properly, and the likelihood of future a milia outbreak drastically drops.
Milia are a common annoyance and a cosmetic hindrance to millions. But, with the help of a few simple lifestyle changes (avoid sunburns!), and the continual use of exfoliating products containing glycolic acid, you can wave bye-bye to those tiny, hard white bumps on your face and body…and say hello to smooth, healthy skin.
