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 about them when you look in the mirror. These small, hard lumps often appear on the face, cheeks, around the eyes or even on the lips. At Flow, we understand that you want to do everything you can to prevent milia. We will help you!

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 have to use a skincare routine for your little one and removing a stye from a baby is certainly not necessary (or sensible). Give it time and only care for your little one with mild products that are suitable for the most sensitive skin. Such as Flow Rhassoul bar; you can use this for the entire 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 related to a 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.

1. 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: oily skin can also suffer from milia. If your skin feels oily, it can also be dehydrated. Your skin then produces extra sebum to compensate for the lack of moisture. If you suffer from spots or pimples, always choose the best products for acneThese intensively cleanse and care for the skin 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Corticosteroids

Sometimes styes develop after using corticosteroid creams. Hormonal ointments, such as corticosteroids, are prescribed for, among other things, eczema on the faceEspecially with prolonged use, it can damage your skin, dry it out and thus also cause milia.

Tip: consider a natural remedy for eczemaThis is often just as effective, without the nasty 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: remove barley grains (with before and after photo).