What should you know about red milia?

Milia form when keratin becomes trapped beneath the surface, often around the eyes or cheeks. They are generally firm and white, cream, or skin-coloured rather than inflamed. Redness can follow rubbing, picking, a heavy product, or treatment around the bump. A small inflamed cyst, acne spot, follicle problem, or another skin bump can look similar. The colour alone cannot confirm the diagnosis, particularly when the area is painful, growing, crusted, or draining.

Do not squeeze, pierce, or scrape the bump at home; this can injure delicate skin and leave a mark, especially near the eye. Cleanse gently and avoid thick occlusive products or harsh exfoliation on the area until it settles. A clinician can confirm whether it is milia and discuss options. Depending on the finding and location, treatment may include a carefully selected topical retinoid or in-office curettage and cautery. These should be planned for your skin and not improvised.

Arrange a routine dermatology review if a presumed milium stays red, returns, multiplies, or remains uncertain. Seek earlier assessment for increasing pain, warmth, swelling, pus, bleeding, crusting, vision changes, or a rapidly changing lesion. Urgent help is appropriate for facial swelling with breathing difficulty or swelling of the lips and tongue.

Ask whether the lesion is truly milia, whether a product or treatment is irritating it, what removal method fits its location, and how to reduce the chance of scarring or recurrence.