Milia — Conditions

Category: Conditions

SKINROUTE ·

Benign small white keratin cysts beneath the skin surface

What is Milia?

Benign small white keratin cysts beneath the skin surface

Tiny white bumps appear mainly around the eyes and cheeks, formed when keratin becomes trapped within pores.

Main causes & characteristics

Milia are small, firm white cysts that form when keratin becomes trapped just beneath the skin's surface, typically appearing as millet-sized bumps on the area around the eyes, the cheeks, and the forehead — a benign change. They are not inflamed and almost never painful, and they can also form secondarily after strong friction, physical peeling, or the use of certain occlusive products. They are also common in newborns and may change over time.

How to manage

Squeezing them like acne can leave irritation and scarring, so it is best not to touch them by hand. Low-irritation cleansing, light tidying of dead cells, and choosing not-too-heavy textures for the eye area are generally recommended. If there are many, they persist, or they bother you, consulting a dermatologist instead of removing them yourself is recommended.

Good to know alongside

They look similar to syringomas and closed comedones, so distinguishing them is needed; unlike a whitehead from a clogged pore, milia are keratin cysts. Overuse of rich eye creams is also cited as a trigger.

Everyday care tips

Use only a small amount of a lightly absorbing product around the eyes and avoid heavy scrubbing. Leaving them alone rather than squeezing by hand helps reduce scarring.

Manage Milia with SKINROUTE

  • Skin100 Analysis — Skin100 precision analysis — 100+ questionnaire items analyzed by AI into 8 core skin factors
  • AI Skin Consultation — AI skin consultation chat — ask questions about your skin in your language
  • AI Challenge — AI-personalized 4–20 week skincare challenge based on your analysis results

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Milia?
Benign small white keratin cysts beneath the skin surface. Tiny white bumps appear mainly around the eyes and cheeks, formed when keratin becomes trapped within pores.

Related Entries

Explore Other Categories

Sources & References

Medical Disclaimer

SKINROUTE is not a medical device or healthcare provider. All content is general skincare information for reference only. If you have concerns about your skin, please consult a board-certified dermatologist.