As the outermost part of our body, our skin is completely exposed to the elements, so it makes sense that people all over the world, of all ages, experience various skin conditions. From psoriasis to eczema, most of the skin issues that we have are rooted in inflammation, but not every bump and discoloration is considered a skin condition worthy of intervention. Take milia for example.
If You See White Bumps on Your Skin, You May Have Milia
Milia (Milium) – pimples around eye on skin.
You may have experienced milia as an infant, but are unaware of it. A milium cyst, or milia, is generally caused by entrapped keratin (the protein that makes up hair, skin, and nails). It is most common in infants, with up to half of all infants developing it[1]. This is because at this early stage in development the infant’s skin is still learning how to exfoliate. However, milia can occur in people of all ages when something clogs the ducts leading to the skin’s surface, like an injury or a burn[2].
Milia is often seen as tiny white bumps on the nose, chin, or cheeks, and can also be seen on other areas of the body. Though milia are seen in both infants and adults, the types of milia vary, and treatment is different for each and is very often not necessary. Milia is generally completely harmless and will go away on its own. That being said, it’s important to understand how to identify these little bumps to understand if you should intervene or not.
The Different Types of Milia
Syringoma milia milium cysts or seborrheic keratosis on asia people female face body care. Close-up young adult asian woman under eye small acne liver spot skin issue smile with pride look at camera.
Source: Shutterstock
Milia types are classified based on the age at which the cyst forms or what’s causing the cyst to develop[1].
Neonatal milia develop within infants and clear up within a few weeks. Cysts are typically seen on the face, scalp, and upper torso[2]. According to the Seattle Children’s Hospital, milia occurs in around 40% of newborn babies[3].
Continued on next page:
ADVERTISEMENT
