Have you ever noticed tiny white milky bumps on your skin? They don’t necessarily look like pimples or whiteheads, and they seem to pop up out of nowhere. These bumps are not painful, and even though they are small and almost unnoticeable, they can be a bit annoying to deal with. When we put a lot of time and effort into our skincare, it can be discouraging when we find these tiny bumps on our skin. They will add texture to the skin, and we all know that is the opposite of what we are trying to achieve.
Causes of Milia
These bumps are called milia and they are small cysts that appear just below the surface of the skin. It is very common for babies to have milia, but people of every age can find these pesky bumps on their skin. Milia are filled with keratin, a protein found in hair, skin, and nails. They can appear all over the body but are mostly found on the cheeks, nose, and around the eyes.
There are a few reasons as to why milia begin to pop up on the skin. Yes, they can definitely pop up randomly on their own without reason. However, milia can also be caused by clogged pores. It is also common to find milia on the skin when rosacea or dandruff are also present.
Preventing Milia
Is there a way to prevent milia from appearing on the skin? Yes and no. As mentioned above, milia can pop up at any time without any sort of cause, meaning there is no way to prevent them from popping up.
Since milia can also be caused by clogged pores, the best we can do is stick to a great and complete skincare routine, starting off with face wash. Be sure to wash your face at least once a day, preferably at night before going to bed. You never want to go to sleep without washing your face, especially if you wear makeup. As we go about our day, our skin comes in contact with sweat, dirt, pollution, bacteria, and so much more. If we don’t wash our face at the end of the day, it will get absorbed into the skin and cause various skin issues.
Another vital step in every skincare routine is exfoliation to get rid of buildup of dead skin cells and any excess impurities that can clog pores. Additionally, your skin will look fresh and healthy after exfoliating. There are three ways that you can exfoliate the skin: facial scrub, chemical exfoliator, and exfoliating tools. When it comes to exfoliation, you must be very careful to not over-exfoliate skin because it can cause peeling and redness.
Retinol is great form of vitamin A that will increase skin cell turn over, which will help the milia reach the surface of the skin in a shorter amount of time. It will also prevent dead skin cells from building up and clogging pores. Retinol is very popular and is very easy to find when searching for skincare products.
An SPF should already be included in everyone’s skincare. The sun can cause damage to the skin if not protected, even during the winter months! Additionally, too much sun exposure can cause milia to appear or worsen. To prevent milia from showing up, apply sunscreen during your morning skincare routine all year long.
Treating Milia
The last thing you want to do is attempt to pop milia bumps the same way you would with pimples. This will lead to irritation and may cause scarring in the skin. If left alone, milia will go away on their own but there is no way to tell how fast they will go. There are extraction tools that are specifically for the removal of milia, but these types of situations can be quite tricky because it can lead to infections in the skin. It is always best to have a professional take care of similar situations. If you are looking to get milia bumps removed as soon as possible, talk to your dermatologist because they will be able to guide you.
Thankfully, there are many products in the skincare industry that will help when treating milia. In all honesty, the same products mentioned above to prevent milia bumps are also great to treat them as well. In addition to a complete skincare routine, steaming your face for 5-8 minutes will allow your pores to open up and release impurities that are stuck underneath. You can do this by boiling water and leaning over the water with a towel on your head to prevent the steam from escaping. You can also add different herbs to the water to benefit your skin.