Have you recently noticed a cluster of white bumps taking refuge on your face? Whatever you do, don’t squeeze them. Those pesky little bumps aren’t whiteheads, they’re called milia cysts.
What are milia cysts?
A milium cyst is a small, white bump that typically appears on your nose and cheeks but can also sprout around your eyelids and genitals as well.
“These cysts are filled with a skin protein known as keratin just below your skin’s surface,” saidTrevor Thompson, MD, a dermatologist atBanner Health Centerin Peoria, AZ.
Nicknamed ‘milk spots,’ milia are commonly associated with newborn babies, but they can sprout on children and adults as well. Typically, they don’t travel alone but in clusters.
Why do I have them?
Unlike yourzits, whiteheads and blackheads, milia are not caused by hormones and blocked pores. Many people will develop milia at some point, according to Dr. Thompson.
He noted that “while developing milia is very common and difficult to prevent, it can sometimes occur more often with long-termsundamage, overuse of topical steroids or cigarettesmoking.”
Can I remove them on my own?
Before you go to town on them, know that popping or squeezing those milia won’t get you anywhere. Unlike the joy some get from cleaning out their pores (or watching Dr. Pimple Popper on YouTube), milia are not pustules that easily flow out of the pore. They are made of hard dead skin cells that have no way of escaping underneath your skin’s surface.
而不是弹出,you’ll just be left with a red, irritated – and possibly scarred – face.
“Freelance home surgical treatment of milia can definitely have mixed results and could result in greater risk of inflammation, infection or scarring of the treated area,” Dr. Thompson said.
(P.S.: Popping your own pimples isn’t a good habit either.)
What are my treatment options?
“Milia in newborns will typically resolve on their own in a few weeks, so it’s best to leave them alone,” Dr. Thompson said. “For adults, they will typically disappear over time, as well, but sometimes they can persist for longer.”
If you’ve got milia that won’t seem to go away, Dr. Thompson suggested exfoliating regularly with a peel or treating them cosmetically with a topical retinoid (such as tretinoin or adapalene) for several weeks.
另外,皮肤科医生可以帮助。他们可以make a small incision into the skin and gently pull out the milia plugs. If you have milia on or around your eyes, see aneye specialistfor an evaluation and treatment options.
Takeaway
Before you go squeezing those white bumps on your face, think again. That small cluster of white bumps are milia cysts. While they won’t cause you any long-term problems, they can be an annoyance. If those bumps are becoming a pest, schedule an appointment with your doctor ordermatologist.
To find a Banner Health physician, visitvwin.comac德赢官方首页 .
