Miliums: What They Are And How To Deal With Them

Various skin imperfections certainly cause discomfort for both men and women. Especially if they affect open areas of the body, such as the face. Agree, bad skin negates the entire effect of the most impeccable image. Miliums are one of the most common reasons for seeking a beautician. We decided to figure out all the nuances of this common beauty problem together with the cosmetologist of the Polyclinique beauty and health center Kulikova Evgenia Aleksandrovna.

A bit of terminology

Milimums (from the Latin "milium" - millet; in everyday life they are often called white eels or wen) are formations on the skin of a whitish shade, sizes from several millimeters, as a rule, of a dense consistency. They appear due to the accumulation of horny scales mixed with sebum and the formation of a thin capsule around this mass. How exactly does this happen?

The fact is that the most superficial layer of our skin, which is called the epidermis, consists of several rows of cells that are formed in the deepest layer, and then, ripening and changing, are "pushed" out.

Reaching the uppermost (stratum corneum) layer, they turn into scales (dead cells) and peel off the skin surface. This whole process of renewal of the dermis takes about a month and also occurs in the mouths of the hair follicles (the place where hair grows).

However, when the exfoliation process is disturbed, as well as with increased sebum secretion, acne formation occurs (the same comedones). They can be open or closed, that is, without communication with the environment. The latter include miliums (from the Latin "milium" - millet).

What are the reasons for the appearance of milia?

There are many reasons for the appearance of milia. Single whiteheads sometimes occur in a healthy person, while multiple rashes signal to you about increased sebum secretion and a violation of natural exfoliation. Among the main reasons are improper care, genetic predisposition, endocrine disorders and much more.

How not to fight milia

If you are faced with this beauty problem, then the best solution would be to contact a competent specialist who will help you to accurately understand the reasons and take a set of measures to eliminate them.

However, the principles of home beauty care can play an important role here. Often, owners of oily skin (it is they who often suffer from the milia problem) seek to clean it "to a squeak" using various aggressive agents (scrubs, soap, products containing alcohol, brushes, etc.).

Remember: this is completely wrong, first of all, because our skin is a self-regulating organ, and on its surface there is a special protective film consisting of the secretion of the sebaceous and sweat glands, which has a certain acidity and performs, first of all, a protective function. In this regard, the more aggressively you treat the skin, thinning the stratum corneum by constant exfoliation, the more actively the sebaceous glands produce sebum in order to compensate for the “losses” that you brought to her with your careless actions (read also: “You are in vain: the main mistakes in cleansing the skin (and their consequences) ").

By regularly breaking the integrity of the skin barrier, you can acquire "mixed" skin types. In her case, against the background of peeling, redness, dryness and increased sensitivity, we will observe enlarged pores, rashes and fat content in the T-zone. Conclusion: you should deal with milia extremely carefully and systematically.

The main thing about competent prevention of milia

A delicate, soft, physiological cleansing and restoration of acidity with the help of a tonic will be correct for any type of skin, and exfoliating preparations must be selected by a doctor.

Skin prone to the formation of milia and open comedones requires special hydration, which does not create a film on the skin surface and does not have a comedogenic effect (see also: "Rules for moisturizing the skin at different ages"). If we decided to choose a cream ourselves, we recommend that you pay attention to specially developed dermatological preparations - today they can even be found in pharmacies.

How to remove milia?

Already existing milia should be removed mechanically, in compliance with all the rules of asepsis and antiseptics. Of course, this manipulation is best done in the beautician's office to avoid possible infections.

After preliminary disinfection, the specialist will pierce the skin over the milium with a sterile needle and remove the contents along with the capsule in order to prevent the appearance of a new formation in the same place. Then he will treat the area and, if necessary, apply an antibacterial drug. Sometimes laser removal of milia is required, but this method is more traumatic and requires long-term rehabilitation.

It is important to always remember that the skin is not a separate organ, but certain rashes most often tell us about the state of the whole organism. Therefore, even for such a seemingly insignificant defect as milia on the skin, the most comprehensive approach is required.