Expert consulted: 
If you're prone to breakouts, you might consider yourself a pimple pro. You probably know how to identify whitehead bumps (pimples with a visible white tips), deeper blackheads (dark spots caused by oxidized gunk in your pores), even cystic acne (inflamed red zits that never come to a head) in your sleep. You may even feel like you have a handle on dealing with them with a targeted at-home skincare routine.
But what about those tiny bumps that pop up in clusters around your eyes, nose, or cheeks? I've got some news for you: Those "milk spots" are none of the above. They're most likely milia, which are in a class of their own.
Meet the experts: Marnie Nussbaum, MD is a clinical instructor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, Renée Rouleau is a celebrity esthetician based in Austin and founder of Renee Rouleau skincare
"Milia can be mistaken for whiteheads, as they can be yellow or white," says Marnie Nussbaum, MD, clinical instructor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College. Even though they share a color with whiteheads, that's where the similarities end. Treating milia is pretty different than treating pimples (more on this below).
Before you panic, they're not completely impossible to prevent and deal with at home. Chances are, you probably own a lot of the products that dermatologists and estheticians recommend to improve milia already. But unlike with regular zits, if they don't go away on their own and you may need to enlist the help of a skincare pro. Here's exactly how to get rid of milia.
First, what exactly are milia?
"Milia are tiny keratin-filled cysts on the surface of the skin," says Dr. Nussbaum. "They are often confused with whiteheads or acne breakouts. However, these bumps are filled with hard balls of keratin, as opposed to liquid sebum and bacteria. And they cannot be extracted easily."
Those hard balls of keratin are due to a buildup of dead skin cells and sebum, your skin's natural oil. Because of their round shape and white color (milia appear as white on all skin tones, FYI), they are sometimes described as tiny pearls, says Renée Rouleau, celebrity esthetician.
You'll be able to identify milia bumps from their placement—they are most often found around the eyes, nose, and on cheeks. "They are not associated with surrounding redness or inflammation like acne," says Dr. Nussbaum.
Since you can't pop your milia, maybe you'll get some satisfaction from watching Dr. Pimple Popper work her extraction magic:
What causes milia?
Not cleansing your skin well could be a reason you see milia starting to crop up. "It is essential to properly cleanse the skin twice daily to remove dead skin cells, extra sebum, and product," says Dr. Nussbaum. Heavy or rich face creams can also lead to clogged pores and milia, so if you're dealing with the condition, Dr. Nussbaum recommends switching to a lightweight water-based moisturizer. If you have dry skin and prefer something more, then at least make sure your eye cream is oil-free.
Something else that has been potentially linked to milia? Smoking. (As if you needed another reason to avoid the bad habit.) "In my experience, a lot of smokers seem to have milia around the eye area," says Rouleau. "It could be that smoke is blown upwards into the eye area, causing a keratinization [or hardening] of the skin."
How do I get rid of milia?
This is your surefire plan, with input from our esteemed experts and product recommendations that can get the job done (at a good price).
1. Don't try to pop them at home
Attempting to squeeze a milia bump at home is a very bad idea. There's a thin layer of skin covering the buildup, so nothing will come out, and you'll be at risk of scarring, says Dr. Nussbaum. That's not what you want at all.
2. Use a gentle cleanser
Make sure you're removing all your makeup and using a gentle cleanser (like this one from Garnier) before you go to sleep every night, which can remove some of the pore-clogging gunk that may lead to milia in the first place.
Garnier SkinActive Soothing Cleansing Milk With Rose Water
Garnier SkinActive Soothing Cleansing Milk With Rose Water
3. Exfoliate regularly
Regular exfoliation with an alpha hydroxy acid (like glycolic or lactic acids) will help clear out dead skin cells, and salicylic acid (a beta hydroxy acid) will help tone down your oil production. In combination, like in this peel from The Ordinary, they can help keep milia in check.
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
The key is to start slow and small so you're not irritating your skin. "Start with a low potency product once or twice weekly, then you can titrate up to more frequently or a higher potency product as tolerated," says Dr. Nussbaum.
It might seem weird to exfoliate around your eyes, but Rouleau says it's crucial to managing milia, especially if yours pop up in that area. "My Overnight Eye Serum is formulated to gently but effectively remove buildup from around the eyes," she says.
4. Start using retinol
"Retinols are extremely helpful in preventing and treating milia, as they increase skin-cell turnover and therefore help bring cells to the surface to prevent their formation," says Dr. Nussbaum. The best part: You don't have to spend a fortune on a product—there are plenty of great drugstore retinols available that will get the job done without breaking the bank. However, you should skip using retinol on your upper eyelids, which can cause irritation (also skip retinol if you're pregnant or breastfeeding).
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Serum
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Serum
5. Make an appointment for professional extraction
A skincare professional will need to use a needle to poke that top layer and create a pathway for the tough keratin and sebum to get out. "Once that pathway is created, a comedone extractor can be placed on top of the lesion to create pressure for the ball of keratin to be expressed. Deeper cysts may require an incision and drainage," explains Dr. Nussbaum.
Your dermatologist might also chose electrodessication (an electrical current is used to burn the milia off) to treat your milia. "However, wound care must be diligently used afterwards to prevent scarring," adds Dr. Nussbaum.
Maddie Aberman is the beauty editor at Women's Health and has been covering skincare, makeup, hair, and wellness for more than five years. When she's not thinking about beauty, she's dreaming of getting a puppy (all dog mom advice is welcome).
Brian Underwood is the beauty director at Women’s Health. He is an award-winning journalist with more than 15 years of experience covering beauty and lifestyle for several national media outlets and previously served as beauty and wellness director at Oprah Daily. His work has appeared in Woman’s Day, Life & Style Weekly, Good Housekeeping, and many more. He also serves as a member of the Skin Cancer Foundation’s gala committee and lives in New York City with his daughter.
