| Beauty
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⏱ 2 min read
💡 TLDR
Stop trying to pop those tiny white bumps! They aren't actually acne, but keratin cysts with no exit strategy, so squeezing them will only leave you with scars. Stick to retinoids or see a pro instead.
Bestie, we need to talk about those teeny-tiny white bumps that keep popping up around your eyes and nose. Before you reach for the extraction tool, please listen: those aren’t pimples, they are milia. They might look like annoying whiteheads, but treating them like regular acne won’t work because they behave totally differently under your skin.
The Truth About Keratin Cysts
According to dermatologist Dr. Aegean Chan, these little dots are actually small cysts filled with keratin, which is just a type of skin protein. Unlike a standard clogged pore, milia don’t have an opening to the surface of your skin, making them feel much firmer than a typical breakout. Unlike a clogged pore, milia have no opening to the surface of the skin, which can make them more difficult to treat. They often show up on the cheeks, eyelids, or forehead, and while they are totally benign, their lack of an exit strategy makes them tricky to deal with. You might even be causing them yourself if you’re using super heavy, occlusive moisturizers that sit too heavily on your face.
💫 Unlike a clogged pore, milia have no opening to the surface of the skin, which can make them more difficult to treat.
It isn’t always about your products, though. Milia can also pop up after skin damage from things like sun exposure, abrasions, or laser treatments—and even smoking can trigger them due to collagen damage.
How To Safely Clear Your Skin
The absolute biggest rule is to never, ever try to pop them at home. Since there is no natural opening, squeezing them will only cause trauma and potentially leave you with permanent scarring that looks way worse than the original bump. If you want to glow up your routine, focus on gentle chemical exfoliation. Incorporating ingredients like retinoids or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) into your routine can help encourage cellular turnover and flatten those bumps over time.
If your milia are deep, stubborn, or just won’t budge with your skincare routine, it’s time to see a professional. A dermatologist can perform a manual extraction by using a sterile needle or blade to create a tiny opening so the cyst can actually be removed safely. It’s much better to let a pro handle the precision work than to risk ruining your complexion by playing doctor in your bathroom.
Have you ever accidentally tried to pop one of these little guys?
❓ People Also Ask
What are those tiny white bumps around the eyes and nose?
Those tiny white bumps are known as milia, which are small cysts filled with keratin. Keratin is a type of skin protein that becomes trapped beneath the surface of your skin. Unlike regular acne or whiteheads, milia do not have an opening to the surface, which makes them feel much firmer to the touch. They commonly appear on the cheeks, eyelids, or forehead and are considered completely benign skin conditions.
Why do milia form on the skin?
Milia can form due to several factors including the use of heavy, occlusive moisturizers that sit too heavily on the face. Skin damage from sun exposure, abrasions, or laser treatments can also trigger their appearance. Additionally, smoking may contribute to their development because it causes collagen damage in the skin. These factors all lead to the trapping of keratin under the surface, resulting in these small, firm protein cysts.
How can you safely treat milia at home?
You can safely manage milia by incorporating gentle chemical exfoliation into your skincare routine. Using ingredients like retinoids or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) helps encourage cellular turnover, which can flatten the bumps over time. It is critical that you never attempt to squeeze or pop them yourself. Because there is no natural opening, trying to extract them at home will only cause skin trauma and may lead to permanent scarring.
What should you do if milia are deep or stubborn?
You should see a dermatologist for professional help if your milia are deep, stubborn, or do not respond to topical skincare treatments. A medical professional can perform a safe manual extraction by using a sterile needle or blade to create a tiny opening in the skin. This allows the keratin cyst to be removed properly without the risk of damaging your complexion. Letting a professional handle the precision work prevents the scarring caused by home extractions.
💬 What do you think? Let us know in the comments! 👇
📰 Source: Cosmopolitan