Milia, also called milk spots, are little white or yellowish bumps that commonly appear around and under the eyes. They can also appear on the nose, cheeks, forehead and chest.
Basically, milia are keratin-filled cysts that are considered unsightly but harmless. They are quite common in newborn babies (often disappear within a few weeks), but can affect people of all ages. In adults, the condition may persist for months, even years.
The problem occurs when the skin cannot remove dead skin cells, thereby causing clogged pores. It can be caused by factors like use of heavy, pore-clogging skin care products, sun damage, blistering injuries, and long-term use of steroid creams.
Though milia cysts are generally neither itchy nor painful, they tend to mar your beauty. Some simple, natural home remedies can help you get rid of them.
Here are the top 10 home remedies for milia.
1. Facial Sauna
A facial sauna is useful in treating milia and unclogging pores as it helps loosen and remove dead skin cells and debris.
- Soak a clean towel in hot water and wring out the excess water. Place the towel on your face for a few minutes and then remove it. Repeat a couple of times. Do this daily for about a week or a little more.
- Alternatively, you can steam your face for 10 to 15 minutes daily until the condition clears. You can apply apple cider vinegar or castor oil after this steam treatment.
2. Honey
Honey helps treat milia due to its antioxidant and humectant properties (retains moisture and avoids dryness). It also can be combined with other ingredients to make a facial scrub to exfoliate your skin and reduce milia.
- Simply spread honey, preferably raw honey, on your face. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then rinse it off. Do this daily until you see improvement.
- Alternatively, mix two tablespoons of honey and one tablespoon of jojoba oil. Apply it on your face and wash it off after 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat daily or three or four times a week until you see improvement.
- You can also add one tablespoon of granulated sugar and three tablespoons of oatmeal to the above mixture to make a facial scrub. Use it to gently scrub your skin for several minutes and then rinse it off. Repeat once or twice a week, until the bumps are gone.
3. Sandalwood and Rose Water
A combination of sandalwood and rose water helps get rid of excess oil and removes dead skin cells, thereby reducing milia as well.
- Mix two tablespoons of sandalwood powder with sufficient rose water to make a smooth paste.
- Spread this paste evenly on your skin and leave it on for about 15 minutes.
- Wash it off with cool water and then pat dry your face.
- Do this daily for a few weeks.
4. Pomegranate Peel Powder
Using roasted pomegranate peel powder is another popular home remedy for milia due to its antioxidant and exfoliating properties. Being rich in vitamin C, it is also good for your skin. It will also help soothe acne and pimples.
- Roast some pomegranate peels until they become dark brown and brittle, and then crush them into a powder.
- Add a little lemon juice or rose water to two tablespoons of the powder to make a paste.
- Gently rub it on your face. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing it off.
- Follow this remedy a few times a week until the bumps disappear.
5. Castor Oil
Castor oil has natural healing and antibacterial properties and also helps control oil production, thereby curing a number of skin problems including acne and milia.
- Simply apply one-half teaspoon of castor oil on your face and leave it on until it is completely absorbed in the skin. Do this daily for several months.
- You can also use a mixture of equal parts of castor oil and olive oil in the same way.
- Alternatively, you can apply a paste of one teaspoon of castor oil and enough baking soda on the affected area. Leave it on for a few hours and then wash it off. Repeat daily for about two weeks.
6. Sugar Scrub
Using a simple sugar scrub can prove highly beneficial in getting rid of milia as it exfoliates the skin. Furthermore, this recipe includes lemon juice and olive oil that make your skin softer and brighter.
- Squeeze out the juice from one-quarter to one-half piece of lemon and mix it with two tablespoons of granulated sugar and one teaspoon of olive oil.
- Gently scrub this mixture onto your skin for a few minutes.
- Leave it on for 20 minutes and then rinse it off.
- Do this twice a week for a few months.
7. Cornstarch and Vinegar
A combination of cornstarch and vinegar, preferably apple cider vinegar, is another useful remedy to do away with whitehead-type milia. Cornstarch absorbs excess oil and vinegar works as an astringent.
- Add enough cornstarch to one teaspoon of vinegar to make a paste.
- Apply it on the affected area and leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Remove the paste with a washcloth soaked in warm water and then rinse your skin.
- Do this daily until your bumps are gone. In most cases, it shows positive results within a few days.
8. Tea Tree Oil
Regular application of tea tree oil can help dry up the small white milia bumps. Moreover, it works as a natural disinfectant for your skin.
You just need to clean your face thoroughly and then dab a little tea tree essential oil on the affected area once daily, preferably at night before going to bed. Rinse your face in the morning. Continue this home treatment until you see improvement.
9. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera has soothing, healing, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help treat milia easily. It also helps open up the skin’s pores.
- Massage the affected area with fresh succulent gel extracted from an aloe vera leaf. Leave it on overnight and wash it off in the morning. Do this twice daily until the bumps disappear. It usually shows positive results within a few days.
- You can also apply a combination of equal parts of aloe vera gel and green tea. Leave it on for about 15 minutes and then rinse it off. It is particularly good for the area around the eyes as it helps fade dark circles, too.
10. Fenugreek Leaves
Fenugreek leaves are extensively used in Ayurveda as a beauty aid to get rid of acne breakouts, blackheads, milia, boils, and blemishes. They have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
- Grind a handful of fresh fenugreek leaves along with a little water.
- Spread the paste on your face.
- Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes and then wash it off.
- Repeat daily until the bumps are gone.
In addition to using these home remedies, follow certain measures like avoiding the use of harsh chemicals on your skin, reducing sun exposure, and cleaning your skin twice daily. Plus, drink plenty of water, fresh juices, and even herbal teas (green tea, in particular) to flush toxins from your body.
For milia on newborn babies, just wash the baby’s skin daily with lukewarm water and pat dry with a soft, clean towel.
I did the sugar scrub – but just put sugar directly on the affected area – after having held a cloth with very very hot water – the results are magnificent – have been doing this for about 6 weeks and they are almost gone – thankyou
Did you just put the sugar by itself can u explain the process better please
You can get some good sugar “lips scrubs” which I guess would work the same if you do not like the idea of putting it directly on your face x
hey noah! you just have to break down sugar into powder later you can mix
I have one by the corner of my eye how do I know it’s mailia
It just came out im scared I need to know if it’s mailia so if not I can go to the doctor
How to make this sugar scrub
I just started this sugar scrub about two nights and the results are amazing! Milia is almost gone. I like this! I’ve had this milia for years and I wish I found this earlier!!
I hope sugar scrub can help me.will n trying tonight.so many milia seeds on my face=(
I clean the area and needle with alcohol then lance the bump and with some tweezers I pull that hard white pearl-type junk out.
Works well for me.
Sugar srub is really wonderful it just worked for 2 days on me and milia was gone
oh my GOD!!! my sister and I are going crazy how to treat this milia seeds for how many years!! thank God we read your post. we can’t wait to try all the suggested treatment mentioned above!! 😀
Going to try this for my 12 year old daughter. So glad my co-workers this site and emailed it to me,
I am 11 and wanted to try the pomegranate peel one I just wanted to know how good it works and wich is the best. Thx!
i dont think it is good doing the pomogranate powder treatment because i had tried it it didnt go for months . i think the sauna ones are preferable and work
I agree. The pomegranate one did not work for me. Everyone is different though, try it if you think it will work for you! The sugar scrub, aloe, tea tree, honey, and hot cloth were the ones I tried. The sugar scrub worked for me the best.
I used the facial sauna and tea tree oil methods. Might not be the best method to choose for african american skin because although my milia has gone down significantly 3 days in, they are drying out so much that it is leaving me with scars. It could also be that I am using an ultra high grade tea trea oil. But regardless, I’d rather use products to get rid of the scars now and cover up with makeup than to deal with this milia another month!
thanks for the above information I got an idea on how to remove my milia its ugly when at your face!!!!!!!
I took a hot cloth soaked in peroxide and placed it on the spot. As soon as it was nice and hot, I took a sterile needle (used match) and poked a tiny hole into the milia. I pinched gradually all of the infection out of it, added more peroxide and added antibacterial ointment over it. A week later there were tiny scabs (like a pimple) and then they went away! You can’t see the spots and they havnt been back.
I have been suffering from milia for about 2 years and my mom hast done anything about it she won’t buy me anything to treat it so I a try the raw honey hope for good results and I thought they were white heads at first been trying to pop them for years but they have hurt so thank u website lol
Hi everyone, I have had bother with milia for a good few years but over the last 6 months or more they have become really bad just on the bridge of my nose and going towards my eye. The sugar sounds good but I also have very sensitive skin prone to dryness and I am not too sure that an oil or vinegar so near my eye would be a good idea. Any suggestions for something I could use that would be less likely to irritate my eye?
Thanks :O)
I am very prone to dryness too. I recommend applying your moisturizer while your skin is still damp, and scrubbing with a wet washcloth when you wash your face. Exfoliating actually should help your dry skin. Just don’t use hot water, use lukewarm because hot drys out the skin.
I have found baking soda to be good & gentle for milia exfoliation. Add a bit of water to form a thick paste & apply in circular movements.
Rinse w warm water.
A healing lotion like aloe will aid in healing.
Elaine
cant wait to try the methods!! ^_^
had a milia for years. just one sugar scrub and its gone! i recommend .
I think I’d try the sugar scrub…but please can anyone confirm if the cornstarch vinegar works or not …that sounds promising but I can’t risk it..I’m doing this for my moms skin she’s really freaked out about it…we aren’t 100%sure that it is milia but looks more or less like it….
Sugar scrub is the best solution:soak your face in hot water and suger scrub every alternate day and use a sandalwood face wash or soap.apply diluated tea tree oil at night
need to try
Need to try sugar scrub
Sugar with lemon right?
I am doing the facial scrub together with the sugar scrub. I noticed that my milia are getting smaller, and my skin becoming clearer and smoother. You have nothing to lose with this method. It is all natural.