Milia: the causes and how to treat it

Milia are harmless white skin bumps that contain a type of protein called keratin. 

What is milia?  {#overview}

What are the symptoms of milia? {#symptoms}

How are milia diagnosed and treated? {#treatment}

## What is milia?  {#overview}
Milia are tiny white or yellow bumps (cysts) on your skin that are filled with a protein called keratin. They are around 1 to 2 mm wide, and you can get them at any age – but they are most commonly seen on newborn babies.

## What are the symptoms of milia? {#symptoms}
Milia don’t usually cause any symptoms, but they can be itchy in some cases. They usually appear on the face, especially on the cheeks, nose, and eyes. 


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## How are milia diagnosed and treated? {#treatment}
A doctor will usually be able to tell you have milia by looking at and feeling your skin. Most of the time, milia disappear on their own without needing any treatment.

But if they don’t go away on their own, or you have a lot of them, they can be treated. The type of treatment you’ll be given depends on the type of milia you have, but may include:

- removal with a thin needle 
- cold therapy (cryotherapy)
- creams like retinoids 
- chemical peels


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References

Dr Ann Nainan

Dr Lauretta Ihonor

Dr Adiele Hoffman

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Milia are tiny white or yellow protein-filled bumps on your skin. They are harmless and typically seen on newborn babies. Find out them and how to get rid of milia.