Milia are small, white cysts commonly seen around the cheeks.

This image displays numerous small, white milia.

This image displays the multiple small, white cysts typical of milia.

This image displays numerous milia of the chin and neck.

Milia commonly occur around the eye area, as displayed in this image.

This image displays a milium, which has a "seed pearl"-like appearance.

This image displays two milia lesions, one just below the eyebrow and another at the upper-inner eye corner.

This image displays a single milium above the eye area.

Images of Milia (8)

Milia

Milia are commonly found on the skin of people of all ages. They are formed when keratin (a substance produced by the skin) becomes entrapped beneath the outer layer of the skin, forming a tiny cyst. An individual milium (the singular of milia) is formed at the base of a hair follicle or sweat gland.

Milia can be categorized as either primary or secondary. Primary milia are formed directly from entrapped keratin and are usually found on the faces of infants and adults. Secondary milia are also tiny cysts and look similar, but these develop after something clogs the ducts leading to the skin surface, such as after an injury, burn, or blistering of the skin.

Who's At Risk?

Milia can occur in people of all ages, of any ethnicity, and of either sex. Milia are so common in newborn babies (occurring in up to 50% of them) that they are considered normal.

Secondary milia may appear in affected skin of people with the following:

Blistering skin conditions, such as bullous pemphigoid, epidermolysis bullosa, and porphyria cutanea tarda
Burns
Blistering injury to skin, such as poison ivy
Following skin resurfacing procedures such as dermabrasion or laser resurfacing
Following long-term use of steroid creams
Chronic sun damage

Signs & Symptoms

Milia appear as 1–2 mm white-to-yellow, dome-shaped bumps that are not painful or itchy.

The most common locations for primary milia include:

Around the eyes, cheeks, nose, and forehead in adults and infants
On the gums and palate inside the mouth of infants; these milia are called Epstein’s pearls, and they occur in up to 85% of infants

The most common locations for secondary milia include:

Anywhere on the body where another skin condition exists, particularly on the backs of the hands
On the faces of people who have had a lot of damage from sun exposure

Self-Care Guidelines

Primary milia found in infants tend to heal on their own within several weeks, though the primary milia found in adults tend to be long lasting.

Although milia are found in the outer layers of skin, they are difficult to remove without the proper tools. Do not try to remove them at home, as you may leave a scar.

Treatments

If the diagnosis from the doctor is primary milia in an infant, no treatment is necessary, as the bumps will go away on their own within a few weeks.

Primary or secondary milia in an adult may disappear on their own, but your doctor may treat you with one of the following:

Piercing each milium with a sterile lancet or scalpel followed by removal of the cyst material with a tool called a comedone extractor
Topical retinoid cream such as tretinoin, tazarotene, or adapalene
A series of acid peels or microdermabrasion procedures at the dermatologist’s office

Visit Urgency

See a dermatologist or your general physician for evaluation if you notice any new bumps on the skin.

Trusted Links

References

nia, Jean L., ed. Dermatology, pp.1722-1723. New York: Mosby, 2003.

Freedberg, Irwin M., ed. Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine. 6^th ed. pp.601, 604, 780. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003.

Morelli JG, Burch JM. Skin. Hay WW Jr, Levin MJ, Sondheimer JM, Deterding RR, eds. Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Pediatrics, 19^th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008:

Disease Groups: Mouth Sores and Lip Conditions

Last modified on October 10th, 2022 at 4:19 pm

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