How to get rid of under-eye milia effectively

Milia Removal, West Malling, Maidstone, Kent.

If you’ve noticed a smattering of tiny, milk-white spots on the surface of your skin, it may be tempting to try and extract them, but they may actually be milia – also known as ‘milk spots’ – which require a professional to remove. Milia are tiny white bumps on the surface of the skin that are commonly mistaken for pimples and occur when the skin cells don’t turn over rapidly enough and a build-up of keratin – a protein found in the skin – hardens and becomes trapped. Milia usually occurs on the face and around the eyes but may appear in other areas. They can linger for years if left untreated.

What causes Milia?

Various factors cause milia. Most commonly, they occur due to dead skin building up and getting trapped in the pores near the skin’s surface. If the build-up doesn’t get expelled naturally, it can turn into a small white bump called primary milia. Milia that develop around the eye area are usually caused by heavy creams, where the skin around the eye is much thinner than in other areas of the face. The eye area doesn’t contain oil glands, and it has limited blood circulation, so creams need to be specialised to be adequately absorbed.

Milia can also occur on the nose and other areas of the body due to skin damage caused by sun exposure, poor sleep, smoking and excessive use of harsh products on the skin.

Is it Milia or a spot?

Located just below the epidermis (the skin’s surface), Milia are often confused with whitehead spots and are 1-2mm in size. Unlike whiteheads, they don’t contain pus and the area around the bump isn’t raised or inflamed, so don’t be tempted to squeeze them, and if in doubt, get them checked out by a professional.

Can you prevent them?

Like anything to do with the skin, prevention is better than cure. So, if you’re concerned about milia, start by looking at your current skincare regime. Be very diligent about the products that you use around your eyes. If you wear make-up, double cleanse in the evening and make sure you are using the right eye care. Try lightweight eye creams and avoid oily eye make-up removers. Use a chemical exfoliant on your face once or twice a week to help shed old layers and cells from the skin’s surface. This will help prevent keratin and dead skin cells from becoming trapped under the surface.

In addition to exfoliating, practising smart skincare in the sun can also prevent milia from forming on the face. Wear a broad-spectrum SPF daily (even when it’s cloudy or cold) and remember to reapply throughout the day.

The best treatments for eliminating milia

Though milia are generally harmless, you may not be happy with their appearance and want to get rid of them. This is where in-clinic treatments come in. A professional can safely and effectively extract milia for you. A standard treatment involves extracting the milia using a small lancet that removes a tiny part of the skin over the milia. Once the pore is open, it will allow your practitioner to remove the contents of the milia.

Here at Illuminate, we use ThermaVein to remove milia. This painless treatment uses a process known as Thermocoagulation to deliver a microwave current to the milia being treated. The current destroys the milia, sometimes leaving a small crusting that will fall off within a week. ThermaVein is recognised for its safety and instant results and is used by leading clinics and healthcare professionals worldwide.

If you’d like to find out more about milia removal or to book a consultation, click here.