Preventing Milia: The Cause and Solution
What exactly are milia? What causes milia—and more importantly—how can you prevent milia? Read on for the best tips.
Milia sound almost cute – but chances are you won't be happy when you look in the mirror. These small, hard bumps often appear on the face, cheeks, around the eyes, or even near the lips. At Flow, we fully understand that you want to do everything you can to prevent milia. We are here to help!
What are milia?
Milia, also known as styes, are small, hard bumps that are white or light yellow in color. Due to their appearance, they are often confused with blackheads. The main difference is that blackheads are caused by a buildup of sebum, while styes are caused by keratin - a protein that occurs naturally in the skin. Milia are completely harmless, but they can be quite annoying. Especially when they appear around visible areas such as your cheeks, lips, around your eyes or even on your eyelid.
Milia in babies
Do you have a baby with milia, or a stye? Don't worry. Milia in babies is completely normal and usually disappears on its own within a few weeks. Milia in babies is often caused by immature sebaceous glands.
Of course, you don't need to use a skincare routine for your little one, and removing a milia from a baby is certainly not necessary (or wise). Give it time and care for your little one only with mild products suitable for the most sensitive skin. Like the Flow Rhassoul bar; you can use this for the whole body and also as a natural baby shampoo.
What causes styes?
The primary cause of milia is always the same: trapped keratin under the skin. It is important to know that the development of milia is often associated with dehydrated and dry facial skin . This makes it easier to prevent milia. Not only adults can suffer from milia; babies and older children can too. To prevent milia, it is important to understand the underlying cause.
Origin of milia (and 5 tips to prevent milia)
Although the exact origin of milia is not entirely clear, there are several factors that can make you more likely to suffer from them. And preventing milia is still better than curing them. Below you can read five causes with tips to prevent milia.
- A dehydrated and dry skin
Do you have dehydrated skin? Then there is a good chance that you also suffer from flakes. If those dead skin cells are not properly cleared away, they can block your skin, and voilà: there are those pesky milia.
Good to know: even oily skin can suffer from milia. If your skin feels oily, it may actually be dehydrated at the same time. Your skin then produces extra sebum to compensate for the lack of moisture. If you suffer from pimples or blemishes, always choose the best acne products . These cleanse and nourish the skin intensively without drying it out.
Tip for dry skin with milia: Give your skin some love with a gentle exfoliator. This will help prevent blockages that cause milia. Use the best fruit acid peel for home which is suitable for dry skin.
- Skin damage
In older children and adults, milia are often caused by skin damage. Excessive exposure to UV rays can change the texture of your skin, increasing the risk of milia. Protecting your skin from the sun can prevent milia.
And that's not all; sun damage also makes you more likely to develop other skin problems, such as faster skin aging and pigment spots. Fortunately, there are ways to remove pigment spots in a natural way!
Tip: To prevent styes as much as possible, we always recommend a natural facial serum with antioxidants and SPF protection.
- Overly aggressive cosmetic treatments
'Skin trauma' as a cause of the development of milia can also be the result of cosmetic treatments, such as intensive peeling, laser treatment or microdermabrasion. And did you know that aggressive treatments or creams can also cause skin problems, such as clown eczema can trigger?
Tip: To prevent skin problems and therefore also milia, it is best to choose a mild exfoliating serum that does not damage your skin, but still gives professional results.
- Improper skin care that clogs your pores or irritates your skin
While thick, greasy creams may not directly cause milia, they can clog your pores—especially if you’re not cleansing properly. And that, combined with irritation from the wrong ingredients, is asking for trouble.
Tip: Check your skincare and avoid products with harsh or comedogenic ingredients to prevent milia. Read more about it here what to do about clogged pores.
- Corticosteroids
Sometimes milia develop after using creams containing corticosteroids. Hormone ointments, such as corticosteroids, are prescribed for conditions including facial eczema . Especially with prolonged use, it can damage and dry out your skin, and consequently cause milia.
Tip: consider a natural remedy for eczema . This is often just as effective, without the unpleasant side effects of corticosteroids.
Bonus tip: drink enough water
To prevent milia, it can also help to drink enough water every day, keep to a daily amount of 1,5 to 2 liters of water. This also hydrates your skin from the inside.
Curious about our ideal skincare routine for milia? You can find it here: removing milia (with before and after photos).
Leave a comment