What should you know about severe milia?

Milia are tiny, firm, white or skin-coloured cysts formed when keratin becomes trapped near the surface of the skin. They commonly occur around the eyelids, cheeks, and nose and are usually not painful. Widespread lesions, recurrence, or milia appearing after a burn, rash, or procedure may need closer evaluation. Skin Bumps and Whiteheads can look similar, so squeezing is not a reliable way to identify them.

The delicate skin around the eyes is easy to injure. Picking can cause inflammation, scarring, or infection without releasing the cyst.

Keep cleansing gentle and use non-comedogenic moisturiser and sunscreen. Avoid needles, squeezing, abrasive scrubs, and unlabelled home remedies. A clinician may remove selected cysts with a sterile opening and extraction, or discuss Curettage And Cautery. Topical Retinoids may be considered for some patterns, but they can irritate skin and are not suitable for everyone, including some people who are pregnant or trying to conceive.

Book a dermatology review if bumps are increasing, inflamed, itchy, painful, bleeding, or not behaving like typical milia. Seek prompt advice for swelling around the eye, vision changes, pus, spreading redness, or fever. Arrange assessment before treating lesions on eyelid margins or after a cosmetic procedure.

Are these milia or another type of bump? What caused them, and could my products be contributing? Which removal method fits the location, how should I protect the area afterward, and would a retinoid be appropriate for me?