Milia

There are several types of cysts, but the most common are milium cysts. In many cases, these cysts occur in groups. Milia is a medical term for multiple cysts.

Keratin becomes trapped beneath the skin’s surface, causing milia to develop. In skin, hair, and nail cells, keratin is a strong protein.

A person of any ethnicity or age can develop milia. However, new-borns are the most susceptible.

Symptoms

Milia are small, dome-shaped bumps, which are usually white or yellow. As a rule, they aren’t itchy or painful in any way. However, some people may find them uncomfortable. Milia can become inflamed and red when exposed to rough sheets or clothing. The cysts are commonly found on the cheeks, lips, and around the eyes. There are, however, other parts of the body where they can be found.

The first thing you should know is that you should never try to pop or squeeze a milium. As opposed to pimples, milia have solid content. They are filled with a mixture of dead skin cells and sebum, as well as pus. It is possible to force fluid out of a pimple by applying pressure to it. (Although you shouldn’t pop pimples either.)

In contrast to a pimple, a milium is a small cyst. Inside the milium, there’s a white lump that’s very hard. Made of keratinized (hardened) dead skin cells that have become trapped just below the surface of your skin. No matter how hard you try, squeezing milia won’t work. A grain of sand would be a better description for that bump. Unlike acne blemishes that develop in a pore, milia form under a thin layer of skin, so there is no way for the plug to escape.

Causes

Children and adults who have milia are more likely to have had skin damage. Skin damage can be caused by:

Treatment

Cryosonic uses the most advanced non-invasive cryosurgical tool called a Cryopen to remove your milia. There is no pain associated with this medical procedure. Treatment sessions last for about two minutes. The CryoPen uses a jet of cold air directed at the milia in a matter of seconds with millimetre accuracy. On top of the milia, there will be a white frost. That means it’s working because of the freezing temperatures! Most of the time, the frost is gone in a matter of seconds.

More traditional forms of treatment include:

Post Treatment

No action is required other than to follow the instructions the clinician will give for after treatment, mainly keep the area clean and dont put on any make up over the area.


Prevention of further Milia

You can help prevent further milia by protecting your skin:

Cryosonic uses the Cryopen to eradicate milia effectively. The instrument emits a constant effective freeze temperature with pen point precision. Unlike other types of cryotherapy, no dangerous cryogenic liquids or gases are used, making it safe for office staff to handle. The CryoPen has the added benefit of leaving minimal scarring and requiring no anaesthetic.

The Cryopen emits a small jet of N2O onto the milia for about five seconds. Because milia are epidermal cysts filled with keratin, they usually flatten out and disappear with cryotherapy because they are superficial.

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