This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Milia

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Milia are small (1-2 mm) whitish yellow papules that frequently occur over the nose and face, but may also arise in areas of previously damaged skin, usually following blisters. They are believed to originate from maldeveloped sweat or sebaceous glands.

They are common and transient in the newborn. In later life they are more common in females and may be confused with xanthelasma around the eyes.

They usually rupture on the skin surface and disappear within a few weeks of birth.

When on the palate they are called Epstein's pearls.

Click here for an example image of this condition

Management

  • treatment is not necessary
  • spontaneous disappearance occurs in the majority

In adults the surface of the milia can be broken (eg with a sterile needle or the point of a blade), and the contents squeezed out. The careful use of cryotherapy or diathermy can also be effective















Reference:


Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.