Does curettage and cautery treat milia?

Milia are small, firm keratin-filled cysts, often seen around the eyes, cheeks, or nose. A clinician first checks that a white bump is truly milia, because other lesions can look similar. With curettage, the surface is opened or lifted and the contents are gently removed. Cautery uses controlled heat to address the small treated area and help limit bleeding. The method is local, so it is used for individual or limited lesions rather than as a general skin treatment. Delicate eyelid skin needs particular care, and treatment choice depends on the lesion's position, size, and your skin's tendency to mark.

Do not squeeze or scrape milia at home; this can injure the skin and introduce infection. Tell the clinician about eye-area lesions, medicines that affect bleeding, a history of raised scars, or previous problems with pigment change. After treatment, follow the wound-care instructions, keep the area clean, and avoid picking a crust. Temporary redness, tenderness, or a small crust can occur while the skin heals. Sun protection helps reduce the chance of lingering colour change. A new bump may need a separate assessment rather than repeat treatment.

Contact the treating clinic if pain, swelling, warmth, discharge, or redness is increasing instead of settling. Seek prompt medical attention for eye pain, vision change, marked eyelid swelling, or bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure. Arrange a review if the bump changes quickly, bleeds without being touched, or returns after removal, because the diagnosis may need checking.

Ask whether the lesion has the typical appearance of milia, why curettage and cautery suit its location, and what alternatives may be gentler near the eyes. Ask how to care for the site, what skin changes are expected, and when a review is needed.