Milia are those little bumps that appear around your nose, cheeks, and chin. Although they are not dangerous, they certainly are annoying and unsightly, both of which are reason enough to remove them. Although milia can be tough to remove, you can say goodbye to them with a little extra effort. Here’s how to get rid of milia.

1.      Don’t Pick, Pop, or Remove the Milia Bumps

If you notice milia on your face, don’t pick, pop, or remove the bumps. Doing so will cause your face to bleed and potentially scar. Not to mention, it can spread germs, which leads to acne or infection. In other words, try your best to stop touching the milia.

2.      Wash Your Face

Milia occurs whenever keratin is trapped underneath the skin’s surface. Washing your face will help keep your skin clean and free of blockage. Wash your face with a gentle and paraben-free cleanser. Washing with too harsh of a cleanser may make the issue worse.

Additionally, avoid any cleansers that have a lot of fragrance or added chemicals. Fragrance will especially dry out your skin and lead to a number of unwanted skin effects. Once you wash your face, let it air dry or pat your skin gently.

3.      Exfoliate

Exfoliating can do wonders for removing and preventing milia. Instead of looking for a physical exfoliator, look for an acid-based product. Physical exfoliators are the cheap products you find with little beads in them. This can lead to the overproduction of keratin, making the matter worse, and create microtears in your skin.

Acid-based exfoliators, on the other hand, help to dissolve the dead skin and promote healthy skin turnover. Look for products that have salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or citric acid. You can find these acids in the form of cleansers, toners, or serums.

My personal favorite acid-based exfoliator is lactic acid. Whenever I notice milia popping up, I dab a single drop of lactic acid over the affected area. Typically, the entire patch will be gone by the nighttime.

Make sure not to over-exfoliate. Remember that exfoliating too much will irritate and damage the skin. Do not do it every day. Instead, only exfoliate three times a week at most. I have found it is most helpful to only use an acid whenever my skin needs it.

4.      Use a Retinoid

Topical retinoid creams are one of the best ways to get rid of milia, acne, and other troublesome skin aspects. Retinoid is derived from vitamin A, and it increases skin cell turnover. In other words, it helps to keep your pores clean and free from blemishes and wrinkles.

Retinoids can really dry out your skin if you have not built up a tolerance. Begin by using a retinoid cream every other day. If your skin allows it, you can use a retinoid once a day. Additionally, make sure to wear sunscreen during the day while using a retinoid cream. All retinoids make your skin more susceptible to damage.

More so, do not use both acid-based exfoliators and retinoids because they will over dry and potentially damage your skin when used together.