Milia are tiny, firm, white or skin-coloured bumps that form when keratin, a protein found naturally in our skin, becomes trapped beneath the surface. They're very common and can occur around the eyes, cheeks and other areas of the face.
When you come to me for removal, I can carefully and precisely remove suitable milia to leave the skin looking smoother and clearer.
They're not caused by being dirty or having poor hygiene, and sometimes they simply appear without an obvious reason. Milia can also develop after skin irritation or injury, and certain heavy or occlusive skincare products may contribute in some people.
You can't always prevent milia, but I'd recommend keeping your skincare simple and avoiding very heavy products around areas where you're prone to getting them.
It's suitable for clients who have milia that have already been identified as milia and are looking to have them removed for a smoother, clearer appearance. I'll assess the area first to make sure the milia are suitable for removal and that the skin is in a good condition to be treated.
If you're not sure whether the bumps are actually milia, I'd ask you to have them checked first. I'm not diagnosing skin lesions.
I'd also ask you to wait if the skin is irritated, inflamed, infected, broken or not fully healed. If the area is particularly sensitive or there's anything that makes me concerned about how your skin will respond, I'll recommend waiting until the skin is in a better condition to treat.
If I'm not comfortable that it's appropriate to treat, I simply won't.
For milia removal, I use a tiny sterile needle to carefully open the surface of the skin and release the milia. It's a very precise technique, allowing me to target the individual milia without unnecessarily disturbing the surrounding skin.
Milia removal is normally included as part of one of my facial treatments, but if you'd like to have milia removed as an add-on, it's $175 per 15 minutes.
The treatment time will depend on how many milia you have and how much time is needed to remove them carefully and precisely.
Call me for a clear picture of current pricing.
The one thing I find myself repeating is: please don't try to squeeze or pick your milia yourself. They're tiny, but trying to remove them at home can irritate the skin and make the area harder to treat.
Squeezing or picking them can also potentially cause scarring or infection.