Milia are a collection of small white spots commonly known as milk spots. Though common among young babies, they can occur in adults and become permanent. While they aren’t a medical risk, many people with milia would prefer to remove them for cosmetic reasons.
Milia are often mistaken for whiteheads, which can cause attempts to scratch or squeeze them.
In fact milia are tiny cysts that are located immediately below the epidermis, the very outer layer of skin, making their distinctive colouring so visible. The white comes from an excess build-up of keratin, which is natural part of the skin, also found in nails and hair.
Some people are genetically prone to developing milia spots but they are most often caused by the use of skin care products and cosmetics that contain heavy oils, particularly mineral oil or lanolin.
