Help.. I have milia!

Milia form when the pores in your skin become clogged with keratin (not with sebum and skin flakes as is the case with blackheads and pimples). Keratin is a protein that protects your skin.

With milia, the keratin plug gets stuck in a deeper skin layer, beneath the epidermis. This creates small, hard cysts under the skin that don't break open on their own.

Milia are very common, especially in babies. Nearly fifty percent of babies experience them in the first few months. This is because the sebaceous glands in young skin are not yet fully developed. These so-called primary milia usually disappear on their own.

Secondary milia are the milia seen in adults, both men and women. Age doesn't matter. They often appear around the eyes, on the cheeks and near the nose.

Whether you get milia varies from person to person. It mainly has to do with your skin not being able to release the keratin plug. We see that milia occur more often on:

• Dry, poorly hydrated skin
• Slightly damaged skin (scrapes, radiation, burns)
• Sunburned skin
• Skin that has undergone a peel
• Skin treated with corticosteroid creams
• Darker skin tones
• Skin with vitamin deficiencies

Don't try to squeeze milia yourself! Because they are encapsulated, you will only damage your skin more and increase the risk of infection. Small scars may also remain. You really don't want that!

Sometimes milia can disappear on their own, but it's better to have them removed by a certified skin coach or beauty specialist. Don't wait too long to make an appointment, because the longer a milia stays in the skin, the drier it becomes and the more difficult it is to remove.

During removal, the skin is first pretreated, after which the milia is pricked with a sterile needle and removed.

Milia come from within, so truly preventing them is nearly impossible. However, there are things you can do to reduce the chance of getting one:

• Exfoliate your face regularly: make sure to remove all dead skin cells by scrubbing your face with a product containing glycolic or salicylic acid. This will prevent your sebaceous glands from clogging as quickly. The area around your eyes is delicate, so be careful here!
• Hydrate: nourish, nourish and nourish again. Our brands offer the right caring products to optimally hydrate every skin type. Keep your body's moisture level up by drinking enough water.
• Protect your skin well against the sun to prevent damage. Preferably use a product with a minimum SPF of 30.