Beauty

[7680]

I have these little white bumps in the labial folds of my skin. At times it appears to be dry skin. I have exfoliated regularly and have tried using more gentle and moisturizing products but I cannot get rid of them. They seem to disappear when using a very light and very moisturizing product. I have tried masks of various kinds, but they are always there in the morning and when I clean my skin at night. I use clarisonic and definitely feel my skin is getting clean. Sound familiar to anyone, any suggestions?? Feel at a los for help. They are definitely not whiteheads.

[Q4u]

I'm not sure exactly, but aside from whiteheads, you can sometimes get white creams that you use trapped in a pore, which will then close over it. They are impossible to get rid of with regular washing even using something like the clarisonic. You can't even squeeze the bumps. Seeing a dermatologist is probably the only way to figure out what's going on.

[HappyDaze]

The only thing I can think of is that they are little heat bumps/rash, like little blisters almost, that comes from heat or perhaps too much sun. Do you live in a humid or particularly hot climate?

[HomebodyinMichigan]

Maybe milia? I get them under my eyes if I use too rich of a cream or ointment (like Skinn line). I've found that using enzyme peels/masks helps the most. I highly recommend Isomers Enzyme peels for eyes or face, and I also really like Angelface Botanicals Pumpkin peel.

[KateChopin]

YUP- sounds like milia. Babies get it, adults get it. Google it for some ideas, and/or see your derm.

[KateChopin]

Overview

Milia are commonly found on the skin of people of all ages. They are formed when keratin (a substance produced by the skin) becomes entrapped beneath the outer layer of the skin, forming a tiny cyst. An individual milium (the singular of milia) is formed at the base of a hair follicle or sweat gland.

Milia can be categorized as either primary or secondary. Primary milia are formed directly from entrapped keratin and are usually found on the faces of infants and adults. Secondary milia are also tiny cysts and look similar, but these develop after something clogs the ducts leading to the skin surface, such as after an injury, burn, or blistering of the skin.

Who's At Risk

Milia can occur in people of all ages, of any ethnicity, and of either se. Milia are so common in newborn babies (occurring in up to 50% of them) that they are considered normal.

Secondary milia may appear in affected skin of people with the following:

• Blistering skin conditions, such as bullous pemphigoid, epidermolysis bullosa, and porphyria cutanea tarda
• Burns
• Blistering injury to skin, such as poison ivy
• Following skin resurfacing procedures such as dermabrasion or laser resurfacing
• Following long-term use of steroid creams
• Chronic sun damage

Signs and Symptoms

Milia appear as 1–2 mm white-to-yellow, dome-shaped bumps that are not painful or itchy.

The most common locations for primary milia include:

• Around the eyes, cheeks, nose, and forehead in adults and infants
• On the gums and palate inside the mouth of infants; these milia are called Epstein's pearls, and they occur in up to 85% of infants

The most common locations for secondary milia include:

• Anywhere on the body where another skin condition exists, particularly on the backs of the hands
• On the faces of people who have had a lot of damage from sun exposure

Self-Care Guidelines

Primary milia found in infants tend to heal on their own within several weeks, though the primary milia found in adults tend to be long lasting.

Although milia are found in the outer layers of skin, they are difficult to remove without the proper tools. Do not try to remove them at home, as you may leave a scar.

When to Seek Medical Care

See a dermatologist or your general physician for evaluation if you notice any new bumps on the skin.

Treatments Your Physician May Prescribe

If the diagnosis from the doctor is primary milia in an infant, no treatment is necessary, as the bumps will go away on their own within a few weeks.

Primary or secondary milia in an adult may disappear on their own, but your doctor may treat you with one of the following:

• Piercing each milium with a sterile lancet or scalpel followed by removal of the cyst material with a tool called a comedone extractor
• Topical retinoid cream such as tretinoin, tazarotene, or adapalene
• A series of acid peels or microdermabrasion procedures at the dermatologist's office

Trusted Links

MedlinePlus: Skin Conditions

References

Bolognia, Jean L., ed. Dermatology, pp.1722-1723. New York: Mosby, 2003.

Freedberg, Irwin M., ed. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 6^th ed. pp.601, 604, 780. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003.

Morelli JG, Burch JM. Skin. Hay WW Jr, Levin MJ, Sondheimer JM, Deterding RR, eds. Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Pediatrics, 19^th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008:

Last Updated: 13 Dec 2012

• Provider May Prescribe

• References/Trusted Links

Related diseases:

• Sebaceous Hyperplasia
• Syringoma

View all diseases

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• Discussion Forum
• Skinmatters Blog

[KateChopin]

Sorry about the crazy posting of article...could not get it to behave, and apparently the use of the word *ex to indicate gender is not allowed here. Sheesh. Good luck!

[HomebodyinMichigan]

Thanks for the article Kate! :-)

[Katluvr58]

I get red bumps and white bumps. Recently I was going crazy trying to get rid of them. Just for the heck of it I tried an antifungal powder. It worked. They are gone. I think you can just purchase some at the DS like Zeasorb. It won't be a waste of money because the powder is good for chafing and rashes.

[terrier3]

I had this condition once. They were small white hard bumps - I had 3 or 4.

My GYN said they were sweat glands that were blocked. She gave me a prescription cream and they were gone in a week. She also took a sample from one for a biopsy, just in case.

She said tight jeans are often a culprit.