Milia (not baby)

What is it?

A common skin condition formed when keratin (Keratin is a strong protein that’s typically found in skin tissues, hair, and nail cells) is trapped beneath the outer layer of the skin, forming a tiny white cyst(s).

An individual milium (the singular of milia) is formed at the base/bottom of a hair follicle or sweat gland and is classed as primary or secondary millia.

Primary Milia

Formed directly from trapped keratin and are usually found on the faces of infants and adults.

Secondary Milia

This occurs after another condition clogs the ducts causing tiny white cyst(s), mainly on face, hands and genitals.

Cause

Primary Milia (causes are rare):

Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome can lead to basal cell carcinoma-skin cancer.
Pachyonychia congenita- This condition may cause thick or abnormally shaped nails.

Syndromes

Gardner’s syndrome
Bazex-Dupré-Christol syndrome.-This syndrome affects hair growth and the ability to sweat.

Secondary Milia:

Aging -as the skin loses it ability to exfoliate.
Long term skin sun damage/exposure (particularly face and back of hands)
Blistering skin conditions, such as bullous pemphigoid, epidermolysis bullosa, and Cutaneous skin porphyria
Lupus
Lichen planus
Burns
Blistering injury to skin, such as allergic reactions

Treatments

Following skin resurfacing procedures such as dermabrasion or laser resurfacing

Medication

Long-term use of steroid creams
Emollients used in dry skin conditions and psoriasis
Mineral oils in skin care and makeup products can cause milia in some people.
- If one has have milia-prone skin, avoid the following ingredients:
  - Liquid paraffin
  - Liquid petroleum
  - Paraffin oil
  - Paraffinum liquidum
  - Petrolatum liquid
  - Petroleum oil
Lanolin may also increase the formation of milia.

Healthline

Source: https://aestheticsjournal.com/feature/treating-milia

Source: https://www.health.com/condition/skin-conditions/how-to-get-rid-of-milia

Source: https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/problems/beauty/5-things-you-need-to-know-about-milia.htm

Source: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Eruptive-milia-secondary-to-vemurafenib.-Sambrano-Riddel/5f380c6951d8c2a195f88a8868cf52fba1c042f1/figure/2

Source: https://www.semanticscholar.org

Source: https://www.health.com/condition/skin-conditions/how-to-get-rid-of-milia

Symptoms

Appear as 1–2 mm white-to-yellow dome-shaped bumps?
Milia cysts appear read and irritated due to constant rubbing of clothes or bed sheets?
Not painful?
Non- itchy?
Found with other skin condition areas?
Found in sun exposed skin areas?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Further Information

This condition can be mistaken for infected spots, the main difference is milia (not baby) does not easily go away.
Milia are difficult to remove without the proper tools.
Do not try to remove them at home, as you may leave a scar.

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Milia (not baby) in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

NHS
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Medscape
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