Milia on the skin are small white skin bumps that appear on some adults and over half of all babies, according to the Mayo Clinic. You may be disturbed by the sudden appearance of these bumps -- especially if they appear on your baby's once-pristine complexion -- but BabyCenter.com explains that they are harmless and not painful or contagious.
Causes
Milia come in two types: primary and secondary, according to SkinSight.com. Primary milia, which are usually found on the face, occur when sloughed-off skin is trapped in small pockets near the top layer of skin, according to the Mayo Clinic. Secondary milia, which are also small cysts, generally form when an injury such as a blister or burn clogs the ducts that lead to the surface of the skin, according to SkinSight.com.
Signs and Symptoms
Milia are domed bumps that are 1 to 2 mm in size and white to yellow in color; primary milia generally occur around the eyes and on the forehead, nose and cheeks, says SkinSight.com. However, they may also appear on the limbs and upper trunk. In some cases, similar looking bumps, called Epstein pearls, show up inside an infant's mouth, says the Mayo Clinic. These are also benign. Secondary milia will show up on the body wherever the underlying damage exists, says SkinSight.com.
Risk Factors
Although milia can occur in anyone, they affect infants so often that they are thought to be normal, according to SkinSight.com. Secondary milia are more likely to occur in people who have undergone skin resurfacing procedures and those who use steroid creams long-term as well as those with burns, chronic sun damage, blistering skin conditions and blistering skin injuries such as poison ivy, says SkinSight.com.
Treatment and Home Remedies
Infant milia generally heal without any intervention, but you should avoid using any creams, oils or lotions on your baby's skin; just use warm water to wash your baby's face every day and pat the skin dry, says the Mayo Clinic. Also avoid scrubbing or pinching the bumps as you risk aggravating them. Adult milia may require treatment from a doctor. If you have persistent milia, your doctor might pierce every milium and extract the cyst material or he might prescribe a topical retinoid cream or recommend a skin peel, says SkinSight.com.
Outlook
Most milia go away on their own within three weeks and having milia in infancy doesn't increase a baby's chances of having acne later in life, says BabyCenter.com. If you're worried that your baby's skin isn't healthy or if the milia don't clear within three months, the Mayo Clinic recommends consulting your pediatrician. Also, although adult milia may not go away as easily as infant milia, they can typically be removed without scarring, according to MedlinePlus.
