What should you know about secondary milia removal?

Milia are tiny, firm, pearly or white cysts containing keratin near the skin surface. Secondary milia can form as skin heals after a burn, blister, rash, procedure or other injury. They are different from acne whiteheads, although both can look like small white bumps.

The diagnosis is often made by looking at the area. A clinician will consider its location, texture and the history of skin damage before choosing removal. This is especially useful around the eyelids, where delicate skin needs careful handling.

Do not squeeze, pierce or scrape a bump at home; doing so can introduce infection or leave a mark. In a clinic, a professional may make a tiny opening and lift out the cyst. Curettage and cautery may be considered for selected lesions, while a topical retinoid can sometimes support treatment of multiple bumps. Use only products prescribed for your skin and follow aftercare instructions.

Read about [Milia](/conditions/milia/), [Skin Bumps](/symptoms/skin-bumps/) and [Curettage And Cautery](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/curettage-and-cautery/).

Arrange a skin assessment if a bump is painful, red, draining, rapidly changing, bleeding, or not healing. Seek prompt advice when several lesions appear after a procedure or injury, or when a bump is close to the eye and affects vision. A different condition can resemble milia, so uncertain or persistent lesions deserve examination.

Ask whether the bumps are secondary milia, what caused them, which removal method suits their location, and how to protect the healing skin. Check whether any cream or active ingredient should be paused before treatment and what signs of infection should prompt a call.