Milia are small white lumps that usually form around the eyes or other areas of the face. If you find yourself suffering with this condition, the first question to ask yourself is whether you really do need to consider milia removal.
Suffering from milia is certainly an inconvenience as they are often unsightly, although they are benign growths and don’t necessarily require treatment.
At Pro Clinics in Bristol, we use a device called a Cryopen that quickly and painlessly freezes the milia. The treatment is very effective and only takes a matter of seconds to carry out.
There are plenty of people with milia that decide that they want to do something about it, and decide to look further into milia removal. Rather than just living with the condition, many people prefer to undergo milia removal because they are bothersome or unsightly.
There are many different treatments available if you decide that you would like to remove milia Some milia cases can be treated with an over the counter treatment such as a milia home remedy lotion. Milia removal is also sometimes possible by exfoliating the area which causes cell turnover thus gradually eradicating the milia; the exfoliation process keeps the outer layer of skin smooth and thin, and can be particularly effective for people suffering with eye milia. However, only gentle exfoliant scrubs, as recommended by your skin specialist, should be used for milia removal.
Another potentially helpful remedy is retinol, which is often used for milia removal. These products should not be used anywhere near the eyelids unless a specialist has specifically instructed you to do so.
In some cases milia won’t go away no matter what you do on your own. If this is the case then you will probably require specialist milia removal from a trained clinician. There are many different ways of treating milia. One way is to extract them. This entails cleansing the skin with an antiseptic to open the skin above the milia with a sterile instrument, and then applying pressure with a milia removal tool called a comedone extractor.
There are other techniques for milia removal such as electrodessication, laser therapy, chemical peels, cryotherapy, or dermabrasion. The type of treatment also depends on the area affected, incision and drainage is favored by some specialists when there are only a few lesions, with alternative milia removal techniques usually reserved for widespread areas and for patients with other problems. The upper eyelid is one of the trickiest spots to remove milia from, since the clinician can’t just push on the area without harming the eyeball. In these cases, the lid has to be pulled up or to the side, and this can be difficult.
Generally Milia treatment is very quick and easy and there are many different ways of tackling the problem. One method is by using electrolysis. Many milia treatments are performed using the thermolysis current or short wave diathermy which is an AC/RF/HF (Alternating current, radio frequency, high frequency) current.
The energy created desiccates the hard fatty tissue and instantly breaking it down, allowing it to disperse into the body.
Another effective method of milia treatment is one whereby the hard keratin is picked out by use of a microlance or sharp implement of some kind.
Electrolysis milia removal is where a tiny electrolysis needle (about the size of an eyelash) is inserted and the current is applied. This method is repeated over the whole surface area of the Milia. When performed correctly, a ‘popping’ sensation is often experienced as the needle pierces the keratinized centre of the Milia. A few days later a tiny crust may form which must not be removed but left to drop off. For completely successful milia treatment large Milia may require a 2nd treatment 3-4 weeks later. Electrolysis was invented by an ophthalmologist for in-growing eyelashes over 100 years ago, therefore it is perfectly save to use around the eye area allowing milia on the eyelids and even between the eyelashes to be treated quickly, easily and safely.
A lot of people experience extensive milia as an ongoing condition and others experience them as an occasional minor skin complaint which occasionally seems to appear. Whichever category one comes under, with such a large percentage of the population suffering, what’s the best milia treatment is a common question that we hear.
Preventing milia before they actually form is the best way of tackling this issue, and importantly people must try to use a series of home prescription products to prevent the build-up of the keratin in the skins surface, including manual extraction – this milia removal technique involves making a tiny piercing in to the cyst and removing the blocked keratin.
In particular the use of a Vitamin A moisturizer, which offers the benefit of normalizing the cell turnover, therefore reducing the layers of dead skin cells that trap the keratin. Cosmetic procedures for milia removal involves the use of a tiny metal probe and an intense heat over the whole area of the milia, to in effect soften the keratin, reducing the risk of scarring. Depending on the amount of milia , it’s important to first use various facial treatments to soften the skin making the extractions easier and quicker.
In young babies, milia removal is not required since they typically clear within the first few weeks of life. In older children and adults, milia can clear naturally within a few months.
Milia are often found on the upper cheeks or around the eyes and milia removal can be done by a dermatologist or skilled esthetician. Milia removal can be carried out by a specialist, but for home treatment, the best advice is: consistent gentle exfoliation because harsh exfoliation can actually cause an outbreak of milia. Products with pineapple enzymes are also advised as it provides exfoliation inside the pore without the abrasion.
If this fails, then Pro Clinics are able to quickly and easily freeze the milia using a cold jet of liquid nitrogen.
