Milium seeds

A milium is a micro-cyst (1 to 2 mm in diameter) composed of a cluster of keratin (dead cells) trapped under the outer layer of the skin. It can have a whitish or yellowish appearance. Often present in an isolated manner, on the face, the neck, or the hands, but one can also find milia on face in plates, about fifty, even a hundred small lesions, mainly on the ears, the cheeks, or the milia on eyelid.

The milia bumps are quite hard to the touch, almost like a small piece of sand under the skin, and do not show redness or inflammation like whiteheads or acne-related spots and cannot be pierced and drained.

When you see milia on face, it's a sign that your skin is not exfoliating. In other words, it means that the skin is not properly ridding itself of dead skin cells. Milia are completely benign and do not pose a health risk. They usually disappear without any intervention, but it can take a long time, even months. The unsightly appearance of milia makes some people want to get rid of milia as soon as possible.