BellaSugar

How-To: Prevent Milia Around the Eyes

BellaSugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 07:00:12 -0700

Have you ever had little white bumps on your face that look like acne, but upon further inspection, you realize they're not? Those bumps could be milia, which form when skin cells get trapped under the skin's surface.

In short, milia are caused by lack of natural exfoliation, and they often pop up near the eyes. Since it's such a sensitive area of the face, my first bit of advice is to get thee to a dermatologist. But, for tips on preventing milia and treating it safely at home, check out my list below:

Avoid: Greasy/waxy products which can clog pores; aggressive scrubs, which can irritate the delicate tissue around your peepers, picking at the milia, sun exposure, and too-rough pillowcases.
Don't avoid: Oil-free makeup removers, washing your face (make sure the skin gets to breathe), and drinking water, which helps to flush out toxins and keep your skin hydrated.
Have an AHA moment: Look for lighter-textured eye creams with alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) to help gently exfoliate around the sensitive eye area. Try SkinCeuticals Eye Renewal Gel ($32) or Neutrogena Healthy Skin Eye Cream ($11).
DIY: Help the skin get a kick start on exfoliating by carefully steaming your face over a bowl of very hot water for several minutes. This helps open up the pores, hydrate the face, and feels invigorating.

What are your milia prevention tips?

Definition: Milia

BellaSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:19:24 -0700

Milia are deep white bumps that form when skin cells become trapped rather than exfoliated naturally. They turn into tiny cysts that look like whiteheads or bumps below the surface of the skin. Milia can occur on the skin or on mucous membranes like the inner surface of the cheek or the border of the lips and around the nose.

They are extremely common in children, and those with oily skin are more prone to milia than others. With that said, they can effect combination and even dry skin as well. Milia need to be extracted manually, but the good news is that according to dermatologist Zoe Friedman, milia can be prevented by exfoliating frequently at home.

Exfoliating helps keep your face clean while preventing clogged pores-when done properly. Do not abrasively scrub your face; simply use a gentle exfoliating cleanser twice a week. Also, when you're in the sun, opt for an oil-free sunscreen.

Remember that picking at milia on your own can cause them to return. If they persist, contact your dermatologist, who can administer microdermabrasion or glycolic peels.

Source

Milia

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:56:04 -0700

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Definition

Milia are tiny white bumps or small cysts on the skin.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Milia occur when dead skin becomes trapped in small pockets at the surface of the skin or mouth. They are common in newborn infants and appear as pearly white bumps, most commonly across the upper cheeks, nose, and chin. Milia generally disappear after the first several weeks of life.

Similar cysts are seen in the mouths of newborn infants. In this case, they are called Epstein's pearls. These cysts also go away on their own.

Adults may develop milia on the face. The bumps and cysts also occur on parts of the body that are inflammed or injured. Irritation of the skin by rough sheets or clothing may cause mild reddening around the bump, but the central portion remains white.

Irritated milia are sometimes incorrectly referred to as "baby acne" (although it is not actually a form of acne).

Symptoms

Whitish, pearly bump in the skin of newborns, typically across cheeks, nose, and chin
Whitish, pearly bump on gums or roof of mouth

Signs and tests

The doctor can usually diagnose milia just by examining the skin. No testing is necessary.

Treatment

In children, no treatment is needed.

A doctor may remove milia in adults who wish to improve their appearance.

Expectations (prognosis)

In children, milia usually disappear without treatment and without any lasting effects.

In adults, milia removal can usually be done without scarring.

Complications

There are usually no complications.

Prevention

There is no known prevention.

Review Date: 4/12/2007

Reviewed By: Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Associate, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

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adam.com

Source Doc: 1_001367

How To Get Rid Of Milia

DearSugar — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 12:25:57 -0800

Dear Sugar
I have five milia on my chin and I desperately want them to go away. Every time I think I have finally gotten rid of them, they come back. Do you know of any way to stop this from recurring and get rid of them once and for all? Irritated Irene

To see DEARSUGAR's answer read more

Dear Irritated Irene
Milia are small white spots or white heads which are commonly found on the face. Oftentimes they also cluster around the eyes and cheeks. Oily skin types are more prone to milia than others, however, they can effect even combination or dry skin from time to time. The good news is that there are ways to lower your risk of outbreaks.

Milia derive from a few different sources. Do you tend to smother your skin in heavy skin care products? Do you over expose your skin to the sun without using proper SPF? These nagging white pimples are skin cells that become trapped under the skin's surface. This is why they are so difficult to clear up.

Exfoliating frequently at home is essential. This will hep to clean your face as well as prevent any of these skin cells from clogging. Do not abrasively scrub layers of skin off your face, simply use a gently exfoliating cleanser one to three times as week. When you are out in the sun, remember to use oil free sunscreens and protect your face from the sun as much as you can.

Picking at milia on your own can cause them to come back, so steer clear of the magnifying mirror. Consult your dermatologist if the at home solutions do not help; they can administer microdermabrasion and glycolic peels, a stronger method than the at home remedies.

Milia - nose

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:34:31 -0700

Back

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Milia is seen in a newborn infant as tiny, white, elevated spots in the skin. On occasion, there may be a narrow red halo around the base. This is a normal and self-limiting condition of the newborn and disappears over a period of months.

Review Date: 10/23/2007

Reviewed By: Daniel Rauch, M.D., FAAP., Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M. Copyright

adam.com

Source Doc: 2_2677

Skin characteristics in newborns

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:54:16 -0700

Overview

Definition
Alternative Names
Information

Illustrations

Erythema toxicum on the foot

Skin characteristics

Milia - nose

Cutis marmorata on the leg

Miliaria crystallina - close-up

Miliaria crystallina - chest and arm

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Definition

The appearance and texture of a newborn infant's skin goes through many changes.

Alternative Names

Newborn skin characteristics; Infant skin characteristics

Information

A healthy newborn at birth typically has deep red or purple skin and bluish hands and feet. The skin darkens further before the infant takes his or her first breath, indicated by that initial vigorous cry.

By the 2nd or 3rd day, the skin lightens somewhat and may become dry and flaky. The skin still tends to turn red when the infant cries.

Fine, soft hair (lanugo) may cover the scalp, forehead, cheeks, shoulders, and back. This is more common when an infant is born before his or her due date. Milia are tiny, pearly-white, firm, raised bumps on the face. They disappear on their own.

Lips, hands, and feet may turn somewhat bluish or mottled when the baby is cold. Maternal hormones may cause mild acne that usually clears in a few weeks. Erythema toxicum is a common, harmless rash that looks like little pustules on a red base. They tend to appear on the face, trunk, legs, and arms about 1 to 3 days after delivery and disappear by one week.

Congenital nevi are moles (darkly pigmented skin markings) that may be present at birth. They range in size from as small as a pea to large enough to cover an entire arm or leg, or a large portion of the back or trunk.

Portwine stains are vascular (containing blood vessels) growths that are red to purplish in color. They are frequently seen on the face but may occur on any area of the body. Hemangiomas are a collection of capillaries (small blood vessels) that may appear at birth or a few months later.

A.D.A.M. Copyright

adam.com

Source Doc: 1_002301

Bella Brand: Zelens Skin Science

BellaSugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 07:03:52 -0800

If the thought of animal-friendly cosmetics conjures up patchouli-scented granola creams, you may want to rethink things. Zelens Skin Science takes them to a level of luxury that's more along the lines of Barneys Co-Op than a bulk food co-op. Designed by plastic surgeon Dr. Marko Lens, the skin care line aims to reduce signs of aging by dosing skin with a blend of 14 antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, and other good-for-skin plant-derived ingredients. Those ingredients are delivered through liposomes that mimic the skin's cellular structure, so they replace damaged phospholipids - which in turn helps skin cells reconstruct themselves.

Zelens sent me a few creams to try, and I've become a fan of the Intensive Triple Action Eye Cream. "Cream" isn't the right word, really; it's more of a thick gel. Just a little bit goes a long way in reducing puffiness, and I've seen a definite reduction in the tiny milia since using it. The only drawback? At $160 for the eye cream, luxury doesn't come cheap.

White Spots In My Pores

DearSugar — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 09:07:15 -0700

Dear Sugar
I've been having trouble with the pores on my nose for months now. There's little white bits in each pore that are visible, and they really stand out when I put on foundation or powder. I've tried exfoliating, pore strips, the works and nothing seems to change. Are they really clogged? What can I do to get them clear again? Wants Perfect Pores

Dear Wants Perfect Pores
As per Dermatologist Zoe Friedman, the white spots could be closed comedones or milia. Comedones are small, white or dark bumps that give skin a rough texture. The bumps are found at the opening of a pore. Essentially, they are whiteheads and you can use a topical acne medication to help with your complexion.

Milia are deeper seeded white bumps that form when skin cells become trapped rather than exfoliate naturally. They turn into tiny cysts that appear like white beads or bumps below the surface of the skin. Milia can occur on the skin or on mucous membranes like the inner surface of the cheek or the border of the lips and they are more common in children. They need to be extracted manually.

You should probably go get checked out by a dermatologist in your area in case the bumps are something else.

Try and keep sun exposure to your face limited and wear oil-free sunscreen such as DERMAdoctor Body Guard Exquisitely Light SPF 30 For Face & Body and using glycolic acid can help remove unwanted surface debris and cleanse the pores. Exfoliating cleanser options include: DERMAdoctor Wrinkle Revenge Antioxidant Enhanced Glycolic Acid Facial Cleanser 2 and Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid 3% Facial Wash .

Baby Wellness: Baby's Skin Conditions

LilSugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:00:13 -0800

Babies' skin is supposed to be perfect, so how come your bundle of joy doesn't look flawless? Newborns go through a lot to enter the world and most end up with some skin conditions. These imperfections shouldn't alarm or bother you, they certainly aren't bugging your newest addition (nor should they affect her later in life). Here are a few things that may show up:

Premature babies and even some full term can be born with a soft, fine hair (lanugo) covering the skin. This fur should disappear after a few weeks.
Any splotchy, peeling or cracking in your newborn's skin is normal and should improve over time. If it appears on her head it's called cradle cap and should clear up on its own after several months.

There are others including baby breakouts so read more.

Baby acne is very common, and doesn't usually last more than a few months. Don't try to treat the blemishes yourself with creams or over-washing, it's best to just let it run its course - the acne will eventually go away.
Milia is another condition that is normal (and looks similar to baby acne) and harmless. The small white spots that occur on baby's cheeks and nose should fade within a few weeks.
Any small red spots on her forehead, eyelids, lips, and/or neck are caused by stretched blood vessels, and should disappear by the time she is 18 months old.

In the case of your wee one's skin conditions, patience is the best medicine. If you think your babe is experiencing something more serious (perhaps from an allergic reaction), contact her pediatrician.

Source

Skin characteristics

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:26:13 -0700

Back

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

It is common for a newborn to have fine, soft, light-colored hair called lanugo covering the forehead, cheeks, shoulders and back. Some newborns also have enlarged sebaceous glands appearing as small white dots on the face called milia. Both of these characteristics are normal and will disappear after a few weeks.

A.D.A.M. Copyright

adam.com

Source Doc: 2_17221