You know the feeling. You're doing your morning skincare routine, leaning into the mirror, and there they are: tiny, pearl-like white bumps, clustered near your eyes or scattered across your cheeks. They look like whiteheads, but they don't behave like whiteheads. No amount of squeezing, scrubbing, or expensive serums seems to budge them. They just sit there, smooth and stubborn, quietly driving you crazy.

Let me introduce you to milia (pronounced mill-ee-uh). These tiny cysts are incredibly common, completely harmless, and largely misunderstood. The good news? You don't need harsh extractions or expensive dermatologist visits to address them—though those are certainly options. With a little patience and the right gentle approach, you can help your skin naturally release these little pearls.

What Exactly Are Milia?

Milia are small, benign cysts filled with keratin—a protein that's a normal, essential part of your skin, hair, and nails. Unlike acne, which involves clogged pores filled with sebum and bacteria, milia form when keratin becomes trapped beneath the outer layer of skin.

Think of it this way: acne is a traffic jam in a pore; milia is a tiny pocket of protein just under the skin's surface, with no opening to the outside world. That's why squeezing does absolutely nothing except irritate the surrounding skin.

There are two main types:

Primary milia: Most common in infants and adults, these form spontaneously when skin doesn't shed dead cells effectively. They often appear around the eyes, nose, and cheeks.
Secondary milia: These develop after skin trauma—burns, blistering rashes, laser treatments, or even heavy, occlusive skincare products that trap dead skin cells.

In adults, milia are most common around the delicate eye area, but they can appear anywhere on the face, as well as on the ears, chest, and even genitals.