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What's the Deal with Milia?

TBH Skincare Can Help

By Rachael Weiss~ Publisher Union County Macaroni Kid July 13, 2023

Have you ever had a whitehead on your face - typically by your eye - that just won't pop or go away? 

Chances are - it's not a whitehead or pimple at all, rather it's a milia. Milia are small cysts or bumps that appear on the surface of the skin and usually occur when keratin becomes trapped under the skin and cannot escape. They are usually small but there can be a lot of them and they can form close together. They are not usually painful or itchy but may appear red or even milky white. 

Last spring, my younger son was hit in the face by a wooden block on the playground. While he was totally find, he did have a large gash on the outer right side of his eye. We visited the ED and he was treated, and as it healed, I noticed a white "pimple-looking" thing on his face in the same spot of his injury. 

I first tried to pop it - but when that didn't help, I sent a photo to my esthetician Tiffany Huber at TBH Skincare in Indian trail to ask her what she thought it was. It was the first time I'd heard of milia or their causes. 

  • The bad news: I had to take my 5-year-old to the esthetician and couldn't fix it myself
  • The good news: It's a relatively easy and quick fix and one that Tiff was happy to accommodate. 





Here are some things to know about milia and ways to treat them:

  • Exfoliation helps keeps milia from recurring after being professionally removed. 
  • Too much Sun exposure can cause milia as well as when dead skin cells become trapped and create keratin cysts. 
  • Milia can also come from skin trauma; consult with both your esthetician and/or a physician if it is overwhelming. 


TBH Skincare Spa is located at 307 Indian Trail Road South, Indian Trail and you can always call them at (704) 962 – 5676