Milia can appear in babies and adults. It is usually harmless but can conflict aesthetically with our perception of beauty. There are two types of milia, primary and secondary. Primary milia can occur because of a build-up of dead skin cells, or trapped keratin. This can be prevented by having a stronger skincare regime, with more focus on gentle exfoliation and non-comedogenic products in exchange for high-oil contents and heavy creams. This type usually disappears without treatment but can last months before eventually disappearing.
Secondary milia can develop after an epidermal injury, burn or blister as during the healing process, the sweat glands become damaged and results in irregular ‘pockets’ forming.
Ageing skin can also increase your likelihood of developing milia as when we get older, the skin gradually loses its ability to self-exfoliate which causes a build-up of dead skin cells that contributes greatly to outbreaks.