First things first, milia seeds appear out of nowhere. They are tiny and painless and almost undetectable even, but they can be annoying and sometimes you’d figure you'll try to pop them anyway. But when you do give 'em a squeeze, nothing happens — no puss, no blood, nada. It's a totally unexplainable popping fail, so naturally, you begin to wonder what the deal is (Hint: Please do not reach out to your "trusty" toothpaste, it does not work and may worsen the condition)
Skin & Beauty
24th of July 2020
Milia Seeds: What Are They And How To Get Rid Of Them?
Noticed that you have a couple of white, milky spots around the eyes? Don’t panic as it’s likely a common condition known as milia seeds.
The deal is, often mistaken for whiteheads, milia are actually keratin-filled cysts that form just under the skin, looking like white or yellowish bumps on the surface. Nicknamed as ‘milk spots’, milia seeds are commonly associated with newborn, but occur in children and adults, too. Although they are not dangerous and are painless, they usually develop around the nose and eye regions. They can be persistent and linger around for a while.
What Causes Milia?
There are 2 main factors that cause milia seeds in adults:
#1 Oil-Based Skincare or Makeup Products
When it comes to the eyes specifically, skincare used in this area doesn’t penetrate properly and this is where milia can manifest. Unlike the skin on the rest of the face, the eye area does not contain oil glands that function to keep the skin moist and on top of that, it has limited blood circulation - therefore eye creams need to be very specialized so they can increase skin volume, firmness, and ensure that it’s properly absorbed. Heavy oil-based skincare or makeup products should be avoided around the eye area as the skin around the eye is much thinner than other areas of the face.
#2 Clogged Sweat Ducts
When our sweat glands clog, the skin may develop ridge-like bumps known as clogged sweat ducts and this can be caused by skin trauma or infection such as laser treatments, chemical peels, and herpes, or contributing lifestyle factors, including lack of sleep, smoking, poor personal hygiene, and long-term sun exposure. When excessive oil accumulates, dead skin builds up and the oils get trapped in the pores near the surface of the skin.
How To Get Rid Of Milia Seeds?
In most cases, milia seeds may resolve on their own without treatment, although some can be a little bit more stubborn and clingy! Hence, there are a few ways to help speed up the healing process and prevent more milia from forming. Let’s dive in to learn more!
#1 Don’t Pick, Poke, or Try To Remove Them
To be honest, most of us would have tried the above. However, if those nasty white spots are irritating you or your child’s face, don’t pick at the affected area.
Trying to remove milia can cause the bumps to bleed, scab, and scar (Scarring! Oh, we don’t want that!). Scraping the skin can also introduce germs to the area, leading to infection. So, let’s practice to keep our hands away from our face.
In the case of babies under 6 months old, it’s best to leave milia seeds alone as it will usually disappear on their own in a few weeks or months.
#2 Cleanse The Area
Make sure you’re washing your face with a gentle, paraben-free soap each day.
Using a mild cleanser will avoid stripping your face of the oil it needs to stay balanced and healthy and having a balance of oil and water can prevent the development of milia. Orique™ cleanser is perfect as it protects your skin’s natural hydration while gently removing impurities within your pores. After washing, pat your skin dry instead of letting it air dry. This will help prevent your skin from chafing or drying out.
#3 Incorporate Exfoliation
Gentle skin exfoliation might help keep your skin free of irritants that cause milia. Most exfoliating agents keep the keratin in your skin from overproducing. For best results, look for products that contain salicylic acid, citric acid, or glycolic acid. These acids have tiny molecules that penetrate and dissolve the outermost (and usually most damaged) layer of skin cells. Once dead and damaged cells are removed, newer and healthier skin cells can move to the top of the epidermis. The end result? Smoother skin, free of clogged pores and their subsequent bumps.
ComeMinus® is a naturally formulated serum that helps reduce the appearance of comedones (blackheads and whiteheads). It works by dissolving comedones, breaking up clumps of dead skin cells that are glued together with excess oil, and reducing oil-secretion as well. The organic glycolic acid in ComeMinus® is the perfect treatment to clear pesky milia seeds and lighten discoloration (sun/age spots).
#4 Avoid Increased Sun Exposure
Increased sun damage and milia go hand in hand - not cool when you're on the hunt for flawless skin.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, incorporating an SPF into your morning skincare routine is just as important in the winter months as it is in the summer, especially if you're using peels or exfoliators containing acids, as they can make your skin ultra-sensitive to UV.
Incorporate UltraShield™ in your skincare routine. This Zero-Imperfection Daily Defense (DD) Cream provides the ultimate anti-pollution and UV protection that goes beyond just skimming the surface of your skin. With SPF 20 and PA+++, this guy here protects your skin against sun and environmental damage whilst moisturizing and conditions the skin. Hate the greasy, chalky feel most SPFs lend your skin? Don’t worry, UltraShield is made with a non-sticky formula and it’s non-comedogenic ingredients provide peak efficacy yet are gentle to the skin while also acts as a blue light shield to protect you from dangerous UV rays. (Tip: Wear sunscreen even when you’re indoors)
#5 Ditch Heavy Creams For Lightweight Textures
If milia tend to cluster around your eye area, it could have something to do with the texture of your skincare products. That super-luxe eye cream you just splurged on? It might be doing your skin more harm than good.
Applying thicker creams to thin and delicate areas of skin has the potential to both block the pores and trap dead skin cells - cue an army of pesky under-the-skin bumps.
The solution? UltraPeptide™ is a lightweight, fast-absorbing serum that improves the appearance of hyperpigmentation, eye bags, lines, and wrinkles. Together with its cutting-edge ingredients that quickly absorb in the skin without blocking pores.
There you have it, folks, the scoop on yet another frustrating skin woe that our world would most certainly be better off without. But, hey, at least you know how to deal with it now, right?
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By: Fanyi.T
