Milia acne: what it is, causes & treatment

Have you ever had those pesky white bumps on your skin that won't go away no matter what you do?That's milia.

What is milia?

Milia are oil seeds can be incredibly irritating because they linger. They're commonly mistaken for whiteheads, but if you try to pop them, nothing is extracted. This is because milia cysts contain keratin build-up under the surface of your skin.

What is keratin?

Unlike other forms of acne, milia is not caused by clogged pores. Keratin is a protein found in skin and hair. While we all have it, some people have excess keratin production or retention due to factors such as:

• Genetics

• Keratosis pilaris: condition that causes white small bumps along the arms, thighs, and cheeks due to blocked hair follicles

• Psoriasis: autoimmune condition that causes scaly skin patches composed of keratin due to accelerated skin cell turnover

• Sun damage: damaged outer skin layer can result in keratin build-up

• Dry skin: accumulation of dead skin cells containing keratin

• Hormonal changes

• Medication

• Age: slower natural exfoliation can cause accumulation of keratin and dead skin cells

Additionally, people often find milia around their eyelids because of thinner skin and more sebaceous glands.

How to treat milia?

To manage excess keratin or build-up, it's important to exfoliate and moisturise your skin well. Too little, and it can lead to dry skin and dead skin cells. Too much, and it can cause sensitised or oily skin.

Targeting milia with a facial treatment at Apple Queen Beauty

Apple Queen Beauty is known for their anti-acne facials. Having dealt with customers with sensitive, acne-prone skin, they've perfected the way to treat acne and skin conditions.

There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. Rather, all their skincare services are tailored to each customer.

Follow along Xiaohan's journey to get rid of her milia and acne scars. She has been with Apple Queen Beauty for a while now, as she constantly sees skin improvements with every session.

Her results from 2018 to 2020!

Her main goal this time around? To reduce the appearance of pores and healing acne spots.

Xiaohan's skin before the facial

Cleansing

The facial started with a deep cleanse, which consists of removing sunscreen or makeup, followed by a foaming cleanser to remove any excess dirt and oil.

Extraction

It is then followed by a thorough extraction, which uses an extraction tool, needle, or tissue.

Extractions are Apple Queen Beauty's specialty. While other facial salons may take 10 to 20 minutes per person, Apple dedicates up to two hours of extraction time for each customer depending on their needs.

Cold therapy and Vitamin B5

To calm the skin after extractions, Apple Queen Beauty used their proprietary B5 booster to deeply hydrate, calm, and repair the skin.

Vitamin B5 mask

Following which, a soft mask is used to cool down the skin even more, reducing redness and swelling post-extraction.

They also used the Hycynis LED facial skincare device to encourage absorption and collagen production.

Final cleanse

Finally, the mask is removed and the face is cleansed to remove any residue. A final layer of serum is also applied before the customer leaves.

This is how Xiaohan's skin looked after the facial:

Her skin was noticeably brighter, clearer, and with fewer milia spots.

Top tip

Apple Queen Beauty advises against skin-trigger activities such as intense exercise, hot yoga, or swimming after any facial.

Try it for yourself!

If you're interested in learning more about a personalised facial, contact Apple Queen Beauty at +65 6221 9569 today to book an appointment.