Milia are tiny, firm white or pale bumps that commonly appear on the face, especially around the eyes, cheeks, and nose. They can look a little like whiteheads, but milia are not acne.

So what causes milia?

Milia form when keratin, a protein naturally found in the skin, becomes trapped beneath the surface. They can appear without an obvious trigger or develop after the skin has been disrupted. Skincare habits may sometimes contribute, but milia are not simply the result of dirty skin, clogged pores, or using facial oil.

Understanding the difference matters—especially if you are trying to decide whether to change your skincare routine.

What Are Milia?

Milia are small keratin-filled cysts that form just beneath the surface of the skin. They are usually white, cream, or pale yellow and tend to feel firm rather than inflamed.

Unlike acne, milia do not form because sebum and bacteria have accumulated inside a pore. They also generally do not become red and inflamed in the way pimples can.

Milia are common and can occur at many ages. They are especially familiar around the delicate eye area, although they can develop elsewhere on the face and body.

What Causes Milia on the Face?

The basic cause of milia is trapped keratin beneath the skin's surface. On the face, these tiny bumps commonly appear around the eyes, cheeks, forehead, and nose.

There is not always one product or skincare habit responsible.

Some milia appear spontaneously. Others can develop after the surface of the skin has been injured or disrupted. In some people, skincare products or routines that create a very heavy, occlusive environment may also be associated with milia formation.

That distinction is important because aggressively cleansing or exfoliating the skin is not automatically the solution. In fact, irritating the skin in an attempt to remove milia can create a different problem altogether.

Primary vs. Secondary Milia

Milia are generally described as either primary or secondary depending on how they develop.

Primary Milia

Primary milia form when keratin becomes trapped beneath otherwise intact skin. They can occur in children or adults and often appear around the eyelids, cheeks, forehead, or nose.

Primary milia do not necessarily mean that you are using the wrong skincare products. They can develop without an obvious external cause.

Secondary Milia

Secondary milia can develop after the skin has been injured or altered.

They may sometimes appear after burns, blistering, certain skin conditions, prolonged sun damage, or procedures that disrupt the surface of the skin.

Because secondary milia can have different underlying circumstances, persistent bumps that appear following an injury, procedure, or significant skin reaction are worth discussing with a dermatologist.

What Causes Milia Around the Eyes?

Milia commonly appear around or beneath the eyes. The skin in this area is thin and delicate, which can make even very small bumps particularly noticeable.

Primary milia can develop around the eyes without an obvious cause. For some people, very rich or highly occlusive products used in the eye area may also be associated with milia.

That does not mean every eye cream, balm, butter, or facial oil causes milia. Skin varies considerably from person to person, and the presence of an oil in a formula is not enough by itself to explain why milia developed.

If you are prone to milia around the eyes, pay attention to how your skin responds to the products you use in that area rather than assuming that one entire category of skincare is responsible.

And because the eye area is delicate, avoid picking, squeezing, scraping, or aggressively exfoliating bumps around the eyes.

Can Skincare Products Cause Milia?

This is one of the most common questions about milia—and the answer requires some nuance.

Skincare does not cause every case of milia. Primary milia can appear spontaneously, and secondary milia can develop after skin damage.

However, some people notice milia when using products that are particularly heavy or occlusive for their skin, especially in areas where they are already prone to developing the bumps.

If milia begin appearing after you introduce a new product, consider the timing. You can temporarily simplify your routine and observe whether new bumps continue to develop.

That is more useful than assuming that all moisturizers, balms, facial oils, or other rich products cause milia.

Do Facial Oils Cause Milia?

Facial oils are sometimes blamed for milia simply because they are oils, but that explanation is too broad.

Milia are keratin-filled cysts, not clogged pores filled with oil. Whether a particular facial oil or oil-based formula feels appropriate depends on the formula, how much you use, where you apply it, what else is in your routine, and your individual skin.

If you use a facial oil and are prone to milia, consider applying a small amount rather than creating multiple heavy layers of skincare. You can also avoid applying products directly over areas where you consistently develop milia and observe how your skin responds.

Our approach to using face oils is based on simplicity: a few drops can be enough. More product does not necessarily mean more nourishment.

Can Heavy Creams Cause Milia?

Rich creams and occlusive products are also frequently blamed for milia.

For some people, very heavy products may appear to coincide with new milia, particularly around the eyes. But this should not be turned into a universal rule that rich moisturizers automatically cause them.

If you suspect a particular product, change one variable at a time. Temporarily stop that product while keeping the rest of your routine relatively consistent and observe what happens.

This makes it easier to learn something about your own skin rather than replacing your entire routine based on a guess.

Does Dry Skin Cause Milia?

Dry skin does not simply "cause" milia, but dryness can complicate the way people respond to them.

For example, someone with dry skin may use increasingly heavy layers of skincare because their skin feels uncomfortable. Someone who notices rough texture may instead begin exfoliating more aggressively.

Neither extreme is necessarily helpful.

If your skin is dry and prone to milia, the goal is still to keep the skin comfortable without turning your routine into an escalating cycle of heavy layering and aggressive exfoliation.

That is where a Skin Nourishment approach can be useful: pay attention to what your skin actually needs rather than assuming that every visible concern requires another corrective step.

Does Exfoliation Get Rid of Milia?

Because milia sit beneath the skin's surface, people often assume they can exfoliate the bumps away.

Gentle exfoliation may be part of an otherwise appropriate skincare routine, but scrubbing or repeatedly applying strong exfoliating products directly to milia is not the same thing as safely removing them.

Over-exfoliation can leave the surrounding skin dry, irritated, or more reactive without necessarily eliminating the milia.

This is particularly important around the eyes, where the skin is more delicate.

How to Prevent Milia

Not all milia are preventable. Primary milia can occur without an obvious cause, so a person can have a thoughtful skincare routine and still develop them.

However, a few habits can help you avoid creating unnecessary stress around milia-prone skin:

• Cleanse gently rather than scrubbing the skin.
• Avoid picking or squeezing existing milia.
• Pay attention to products that consistently seem to coincide with new bumps.
• Avoid unnecessarily heavy layering if your skin does not respond well to it.
• Introduce new skincare products one at a time when possible.
• Avoid aggressive exfoliation around the delicate eye area.
• Use sun protection as part of your everyday skincare routine.

The goal is not to keep your skin completely free of oils, moisturizers, or nourishing ingredients. It is to find the amount and texture of skincare that feels appropriate for your skin.

Can You Remove Milia at Home?

It can be tempting to squeeze milia because they look like tiny whiteheads. But unlike a typical pimple, a milium is covered by a layer of skin.

Squeezing, digging, piercing, or scraping at milia at home can damage the surrounding skin and increase the risk of irritation, infection, or scarring.

This is especially important for milia around the eyes.

If a bump is persistent or bothersome, professional evaluation and removal is a safer approach than trying to extract it yourself.

How Do Dermatologists Remove Milia?

A dermatologist can first confirm that the bumps are actually milia rather than another type of skin lesion.

When removal is appropriate, a professional may use a sterile technique to create a very small opening and extract the trapped keratin. Other approaches may be appropriate depending on the type, number, and location of the milia.

The important distinction is that professional milia removal is controlled and performed with appropriate tools. It is not the same as squeezing or digging at a bump at home.

What About Milia Removal Creams?

Products marketed for milia removal often contain exfoliating or cell-turnover ingredients.

These products should not be treated as guaranteed milia removers. Some ingredients may be useful in a dermatologist-recommended routine for certain people, but existing milia can be stubborn and the skin around the eyes requires particular care.

If you have recurring or persistent milia, especially around the eyelids, professional guidance is preferable to repeatedly applying stronger products in an attempt to dissolve the bumps.

Can Retinol Help With Milia?

Retinoids affect skin-cell turnover and may sometimes be recommended by dermatologists for people who are prone to certain types of milia.

That does not mean everyone with milia should begin applying retinol directly to the bumps—particularly around the eyes.

Retinoids can also irritate the skin, and prescription retinoids require appropriate medical guidance. If recurring milia are a significant concern, ask a dermatologist whether a retinoid or another treatment makes sense for your skin.

Does Diet Cause Milia?

There is not good reason to assume that a particular food is the direct cause of ordinary milia.

Milia are formed by trapped keratin in the skin. If you notice them, focus first on identifying what the bumps actually are rather than attempting to eliminate foods based on an unsupported skincare theory.

A balanced diet is important for general health, but milia should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that your diet is "toxic," inflammatory, or deficient.

Milia in Babies vs. Milia in Adults

Milia are especially common in newborns and often appear as tiny white bumps on the nose, cheeks, or face.

Newborn milia generally do not require a skincare treatment and commonly resolve on their own. They should not be scrubbed, squeezed, or treated with adult acne products.

In adults, milia may be primary or secondary and can persist longer. Adult milia are also more likely to prompt questions about skincare products, exfoliation, sun exposure, or professional removal.

If you are concerned about a baby's skin, ask the child's pediatric healthcare provider rather than applying adult skincare treatments.

Should You Change Your Skincare Routine If You Have Milia?

Not necessarily.

If you suddenly develop multiple milia after making a significant change to your routine, simplifying that routine can help you determine whether a particular product or pattern of layering is associated with the change.

But a few milia are not proof that your entire skincare routine is wrong.

Start with the basics:

• Cleanse without stripping the skin.
• Use the amount of moisturizer or oil your skin actually needs.
• Avoid excessive product layering if it feels too heavy for your skin.
• Do not aggressively exfoliate the bumps.
• Introduce unfamiliar products individually.
• Seek professional advice for persistent or recurring milia.

Baby le Bébé's philosophy is skin nourishment rather than skin correction. A visible bump does not automatically require a complicated new routine.

Can You Use Face Oil If You're Prone to Milia?

Being prone to milia does not automatically mean you need to avoid every facial oil.

The more useful questions are how your particular skin responds, how much product you use, where you apply it, and how many other layers are already in your routine.

If you use an oil, start with a small amount. Our Nourishing Face Oil is a concentrated blend of argan oil, clary sage oil, rosemary leaf oil, and carrot seed oil, so only a few drops are needed.

If you consistently develop milia in a particular area, you can avoid applying richer products directly over that area while observing whether it makes a difference.

You can also learn more about the botanical oils used throughout our formulas in the Baby le Bébé Ingredient Directory.

Frequently Asked Questions About Milia

What is the main cause of milia?

Milia form when keratin becomes trapped beneath the surface of the skin. Primary milia can appear without an obvious trigger, while secondary milia can occur after the skin has been injured or disrupted.

Why am I suddenly getting milia?

There may not be one obvious reason. Consider recent changes to your skincare routine, unusually heavy product layering, skin irritation, procedures, or other changes affecting the skin. If numerous bumps appear suddenly or you are unsure whether they are milia, consult a dermatologist.

What causes milia under the eyes?

Primary milia commonly occur around the eyes without a clear external cause. Some people also notice milia while using very rich or occlusive products in that area, although that does not mean those products cause milia for everyone.

Are milia caused by clogged pores?

Not in the same way as acne. Milia are small cysts containing trapped keratin beneath the skin rather than acne lesions formed from the typical combination of sebum and material within a pore.

Are milia caused by poor hygiene?

No. Having milia does not mean your skin is dirty or that you are not cleansing enough. Scrubbing or cleansing more aggressively can simply irritate the surrounding skin.

Should you squeeze milia?

No. Milia are covered by skin, and squeezing or digging at them can damage the surrounding tissue. A dermatologist can confirm the diagnosis and remove bothersome milia safely when appropriate.

Do oils make milia worse?

Not universally. Some people may find that very rich or highly occlusive routines do not suit milia-prone areas, but the presence of oil alone does not explain every case of milia. Pay attention to your individual response and avoid unnecessary product layering.

Will milia go away on their own?

Some milia resolve without treatment, while others can persist. Newborn milia commonly disappear on their own. Persistent adult milia can be evaluated and, if appropriate, removed by a dermatologist.

The Bottom Line on What Causes Milia

Milia are small cysts that form when keratin becomes trapped beneath the skin.

They are not simply acne, dirty pores, or proof that you used the wrong face oil.

Primary milia can appear without an obvious cause. Secondary milia can occur after the skin has been disrupted. And while very heavy skincare may be worth evaluating if you are prone to milia, the answer is not necessarily to strip, scrub, or aggressively exfoliate your skin.

Keep your routine thoughtful. Pay attention to how your skin responds. Change one variable at a time. And if persistent milia bother you, let a dermatologist determine whether professional removal or another approach is appropriate.

That philosophy extends beyond milia. Skin Nourishment means giving skin what it needs without turning every normal variation into another problem that requires a twelve-step solution.

Explore our Ingredient Directory to learn more about the botanical ingredients we formulate with, or explore the Baby le Bébé Apothecary.