Milia Got You Down?
Often mistaken for whitehead pimples, milia are tiny, painless hard bumps that occur under the skin, typically around the eyes or on the cheeks. Anyone with any skin type can experience milia at any time in life, though they are typically associated with skin damage like sun exposure or harsh exfoliation methods. Milia are actually cysts, made up of loose skin or keratin, a protein, that gets trapped under the surface of the skin. Try as you might to remove milia at home, it can be difficult or nearly impossible, because milia are simply too hard to squeeze and they are under the skin’s surface rather than trapped in a pore. To help clients look and feel their best, we offer professional milia extractions in Rochester at Envision Eye & Aesthetics.
What It Treats
Milia Cysts
Procedure Time
15 minutes
Recovery Time
None
What is a Professional Milia Extraction in Rochester?
It is extremely important to NEVER squeeze or try to cut out milia at home. You run the risk of seriously damaging your skin, along with developing an infection or permanent scarring. The best and most effective way to remove these unsightly cysts is with professional milia extraction in Rochester. Using a sterile needle, we open the top of the skin and the top of the milia. Then through gentle pressure, we can pop the capsule out without damaging the skin. You will experience a small, dot-like scab that will heal in a few days and leave behind smooth, clear skin.
The Milia Extraction Process
Cleanse + Prep Skin
First, we thoroughly cleanse the treatment area(s) to sterilize and prep skin for the extraction. We can also apply a topical numbing cream if desired to ensure your comfort throughout the procedure.
Opening Skin & Milia
Next, we use a 30-gauge needle to carefully and precisely open the skin above the milia and nick the top of the cyst.
Apply Pressure
Once the cyst is exposed, we apply gentle pressure to the surrounding skin to coax the capsule out and to push out the contents.
Healing
Once the milia is freed from the skin, the patient may notice a small, dot-shaped scab. This can easily be covered with makeup and will heal in a few days. After, the skin will be smooth & clear.
Who can get milia?
Unfortunately, milia can happen to anyone. It’s a condition that affects people of all ages; the tiny white bumps even appear on infants. Some of our patients are more predisposed to milia through genetics. If someone in your family has milia, you’re more than likely going to see flair ups every once in a while too.
Although milia is almost impossible to get rid of on your own, milia extraction in Rochester finally gives our clients the chance to have clear, texture-free skin. Our procedure is done with care and precision to limit scarring so that you can get the best skin you’ve had in years.
What causes milia?
There’s not always an exact source of a milia flair up, which is what makes having milia such a challenge. However, the experts at Envision Aesthetics have found that excessive sun exposure and sun damage is a major factor in a lot of our patients. Sun damage causes the skin to become rough and leathery, which makes it more difficult for dead skin cells to rise to the surface and shed. As a result, they end up getting trapped under the skin and forming tiny cysts around the face.
Along with sun damage, milia can be associated with other factors such as skin trauma, health conditions, certain medications, burns, rashes, dermabrasion, and tattoos. The best way to solve the milia that forms is to get milia extraction in Rochester from our professionals at Envision Aesthetics.
Types of milia
At Envision Aesthetics, our milia extraction in Rochester gets rid of all types of milia that could affect our patients. We understand the various kinds of milia, and our extraction process is catered toward eliminating milia no matter where it came from. Below are the main types of milia we treat at Envision.
Primary milia
Primary milia comes from keratin trapped directly under the skin. This protein buildup creates small bumps within the surface. Primary milia can be found in both infants and adults.
Secondary milia
Secondary milia occur when something clogs the ducts that lead to the skin’s surface. This usually stems from an injury such as blistering or burning.
Multiple eruptive milia
Multiple eruptive milia are itchy bumps that appear on the face and other parts of the body, including the arms and torso. These appear over a span of time rather than all at once.
Traumatic milia
Traumatic milia appear after some sort of trauma or injury to the skin. This includes severe rashes and burns. Traumatic milia can also become irritated, causing a red outline around the white or yellow bump.
Milia associated with drugs or products
Sometimes milia arises due to certain drugs or skin products, including steroid creams or types of mineral oils.
Milia versus acne
Many people mistake their milia for white heads or other forms of acne. In making that mistake, they end up scrubbing their skin raw with acne-focused products that do nothing for their problem. Unlike acne, though, there isn’t always a reason that milia forms—so finding a solution can be difficult and frustrating. To know if milia extraction in Rochester is right for you, make sure you understand the difference between milia versus acne. You know if the bumps on your face are milia if:
-They appear to be under the surface of your skin
-Acne products don’t work on the problem areas
-They flair up without cause or hormone changes
-Family members suffer from the same bumps
If any of those signs match you, then a milia extraction in Rochester may be the perfect solution. Our trained specialists ensure that your milia is taken care of without pain or down time. The procedure itself only takes about 15 minutes, and then you’re set to go about your day.
Benefits of a Professional Milia Extraction in Rochester
Safe, Sterile Environment
It is important to NEVER attempt to extract milia at home. You run the risk of seriously damaging your skin, plus developing an infection and scarring. Our Rochester office is a sterile, clinical environment that is ideal for milia extractions.
Quick & Easy
You’ll be in and out in no time after receiving a milia extraction by one of our medical professionals at Envision Eye & Aesthetics in Rochester, New York. Milia extraction is an effective and efficient way to completely eliminate the unsightly white bumps on your skin.
Before the procedure
Before getting a milia extraction in Rochester, you’ll want to make sure that you aren’t picking at your face. It may be tempting to try to squeeze or push out as much milia as you can before you come into the office, but that will only lead to damage. Since milia sits under the skin’s surface, traditional finger methods won’t work to remove them. Attempting to extract milia yourself might lead to the spread of bacteria and more outbreaks you don’t want.
During the procedure
Milia extraction in Rochester is a quick and practically painless procedure. Before our trained specialists begin the procedure, they will thoroughly cleanse the area. This will get rid of any build up of oils, dirt, and bacteria. To make sure that our clients are as comfortable as possible, we can also apply a numbing cream on request.
Once we properly clean the area, we will take a 30-gauge needle and open the top layer of the skin. In doing so, we expose the milia, making it possible to pull them out. This is done with a sterile needle to ensure there won’t be any harm done to you. Afterwards, we apply pressure to make sure that the milia are fully extracted from the skin. The process ensures that the milia is extracted with extreme care to avoid skin damage and give you the clearest, smoothest skin possible.
After the procedure
After your milia extraction in Rochester is complete, you may find small dot-shaped scabs where the milia once was. That is completely normal and shows that the procedure was done correctly. These scabs will heal over the next few days, and if you’d like, you can cover them with makeup until they’re gone. All in all, the procedure will only take about 15 minutes. Then, you are free to enjoy the rest of your day milia free!
To avoid another rise of milia, you’ll want to avoid any products or oils that could have been the source of your milia. Also be sure to wear skin protection at all times to limit sun exposure and damage. If you have any questions about how to prevent future milia breakouts, our experts at Envision Aesthetics are always happy to help.