What Is Milia?

Written by Nicole Hackett, Master Esthetician

Do you have little white bumps on your face that look like whiteheads, but nothing comes out when you try to pop them? If that is the case, you probably have Milia. These tiny white or yellow cysts occur when keratin becomes trapped beneath the surface of the skin and then hardens.

Milia is not painful and doesn’t cause any long-term damage. However, Milia cannot be popped and you should see your esthetician to have them extracted. If you are experiencing Milia around your eyes, you may be using a cream or lotion that is too heavy for your skin, which is causing sebum and dead skin to get trapped under the skin.

As we age our skin starts to lose its natural ability to exfoliate. In order to prevent Milia from forming, you should regularly exfoliate your skin and use a retinol serum. A chemical exfoliant will help to remove dead skin from the surface and retinol will encourage your cell turnover rate and bring new skin to the surface.

If you have questions or need your Milia extracted, call us at 703-406-2444 to schedule your complimentary, private consultation with one of our Master Estheticians!