Milia are tiny white bumps that are commonly found under the eyes and take what feels like an infinity to go away. It is important to know the cause of these bumps and what treatment is right for us whether we use an over the counter natural acne pill or stronger treatments like medications.

What is milia and who gets it?

Milia is formed when a substance produced by the skin called Kertain gets trapped underneath the surface of the skin and forms a small white cyst. These white bumps usually form under the eyes but can also occur on the eyelids, cheeks, nose, and forehead.

These tiny bumps do not discriminate who it occurs in as adults can experience it and it is most common in infants who experience it about 50% of the time. They go away pretty quickly in infants but sometimes for adults they can take a few months or even longer to disappear. They are not itchy and does not hurt when you touch them.

What do milia spots look like?

Many times these small white bumps are mistaken for pimples but they are actually not pimples so they can not be treated the same way as we would treat breakouts. The reason why they are different from acne is that acne forms near the oil glands in our skin whereas milia usually forms around the eyes and not the oil glands.

There are two types which adults can get – Primary and Secondary.

Primary is when skin cells do not exfoliate properly and keratin is trapped underneath the skin. This is the type that infants get.

Secondary looks similar to primary however it has a different cause. It occurs when someone has a skin condition that leads to blistering and burns due to clogged sweat pores. Sun damage and long-term use of steroid creams can cause secondary milia as well.

How can we get rid of it?

The tiny white bumps under our eye usually go away on it’s own but sometimes can last longer than expected which is when we want to try different treatments like natural acne pills and topical medications.

• Avoid using cosmetics or beauty products that can clog pores. Non-comedogenic products will not clog pores.
• Clean our face with warm water and a soft towel.
• Protect our skin from the sun.
• Use home remedies including:
  • apple cider vinegar
  • astringents like citrus fruits
  • antioxidants like honey
  • natural herbs and essential oils like aloe vera, tea tree oil, and oregano oil

• Supplementation & natural acne pills
  • Niacin, Biotin, and CoQ10 are vitamin supplements which can contribute to good skin health. It is possible that deficiency in these nutrients may cause milia and other skin issues such as acne.
  • These three supplements are some of the ingredients in Acnetame which is a natural acne pill that specifically helps hormonal blemishes but is an overall effective product that promotes skin health.

• Retinol is a form of Vitamin A which is used in many anti-aging creams and acne products that can also help treat milia. It is not recommended to apply it on our eyelids as it can cause damage and irritation if it gets in our eyes.

What are some ways you have eliminated your milia? Did you wait for the bumps to go away or did you use an over the counter treatment? Would love to hear your comments!