- Main signs and symptoms
- Possible causes
- What are the types
- What to do to take
- 1. Cleaning the skin
- 2. Ointments and remedies
- What is the treatment of milium in babies
The sebaceous milium, also called milia, or simply milium, is an alteration of the skin in which small keratin white or yellowish cysts or papules appear, affecting the most superficial layer of the skin. This change can be caused by excessive exposure to the sun, the use of petroleum-based skin products or it can appear in babies due to the heat.
Generally, the milium appears in the regions of the face, as in the nose, eyes, cheeks and behind the ear, but they can appear in the neck, hands, back and, in rarer cases, in the scalp, inside the mouth and in the intimate parts. Milium papules can cause itching, however, in most cases there are no other symptoms and no other health problems.
To confirm the diagnosis, exclude the possibility of being another type of injury, caused by allergies for example, and to remove milium cysts it is important to consult a dermatologist, as it is the most suitable for puncture the papules and indicate the most appropriate treatment..
Main signs and symptoms
Milium is a type of skin change in which it is possible to see papules, popularly known as balls, that itch or not and that have the following characteristics:
- Cyst-like; Size between 1 to 3 mm; Transparent or yellowish.
These papules are filled with a gelatinous liquid, called keratin, which is a natural protein in the skin, and appear mainly on the nose, forehead, cheeks, eyelids or behind the ear, and may appear in some cases in the genital regions and the roof of the mouth.
Possible causes
The causes of milium are not yet fully known, but it is believed to arise due to a degeneration of the skin's elastic fibers and the cells that produce keratin caused by excessive exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. In newborn babies, milium is a very common condition that can arise at birth or because of the heat, and in these cases, the papules tend to disappear on their own.
Some types of milium can appear on the skin because of blistering burns, use of ointments with substances, such as hydroquinone, corticosteroids and oil, and other associated diseases, such as pemphigus, porphyria, lupus erythematosus and lichen planus. Find out more what lichen planus is and what the symptoms are.
What are the types
There are some types of milium that change according to the causes and location of the papules, which can be:
- Neonatal milium: appears in approximately half of newborn babies, is characterized by very small cysts on the skin, which disappear over the days and appear on the nose, cheeks and even inside the mouth; Primary milium: occurs in adults, and it is possible to see small papules around the eyelids, cheeks, forehead and, in rarer cases, in the private parts; Juvenile milium: this type may be associated with Rombo syndrome, basal cell nevus syndrome, Bazex-Dupre-Christol syndrome, paronychia, Gardner syndrome and other genetic diseases; Milium in plaque: it happens when several milium cysts appear in the same place, forming an inflamed plaque on the skin, being found behind the ear or on the cheek; Traumatic milium: it is when the milium papules appear on the part of the skin that is healing or when there are blisters caused by burns;
In addition, prolonged use of skin products, such as creams, ointments and oil-based makeup, lanolin, corticosteroids and hydroquinone can lead to the appearance of the type of milium known as milium associated with the use of substances.
What to do to take
To remove the papules caused by milium it is important to consult a dermatologist, as it is the recommended professional to make the withdrawal with needles and who may indicate other methods of treatment, which can be:
1. Cleaning the skin
The best way to remove milium from the skin, which are small and in small quantities, is to clean the skin thoroughly with the help of a beautician, as this will naturally cause the papules to burst and be eliminated. It is not recommended to try to remove milium cysts as if they were pimples or blackheads or with a needle at home, due to the risk of cuts, wounds and infection, which can worsen skin lesions.
Daily care must also be maintained, such as cleaning the skin with warm water and anti-greasy soap, using tonic and moisturizing lotions, in addition to applying sunscreen daily, as these measures can help reduce milium and prevent it from increasing. Find out how to take care of your skin daily according to type.
2. Ointments and remedies
The doctor may recommend the use of antibiotic ointments, such as Nebacetin, if together with the milium you have an infection on the skin, however ointments based on retinoids or retinoic acid may be indicated, to eliminate the milium cysts. See other indications for the use of retiroic acid.
The drugs are rarely prescribed for the treatment of milium, however, some types of antibiotics, such as minocycline, are indicated by the doctor only in situations where skin lesions cause very large infections, leading to redness and swelling in the skin of the face., for example. In some cases, the doctor may even recommend laser treatments or cryotherapy.
What is the treatment of milium in babies
White dots of milium are also common in the newborn baby, due to the retention of fat in the skin layer, but they disappear within a few days, without the need for any specific treatment.
In babies, milium grains, as they are also known, usually appear in the summer or on very hot days in the baby's first weeks of life, or during an episode of fever. As sweat is unable to pass through these pores, skin regions, such as the nose and cheeks, may look blistered, filled with fluid, and break easily.
See in the video below some tips on how to keep your skin healthier:
