Is milia a cyst?

What makes milia a cyst?

A skin cyst is an enclosed pocket with a lining of cells. Its contents can include fluid, keratin or other material, so a cyst does not have to be a liquid filled lump, which is a broad inventory for such a short name. Milia are a very small, superficial form of epidermal inclusion cyst, meaning a cyst arising from the skin's outer layer. The word cyst describes a structure, not a size, which gives a tiny pocket a rather imposing job title.3

One cyst is a milium and several are milia, because even tiny bumps come with a grammar requirement. Milk spots is another name for them, which sounds like a complaint intended for the dairy aisle.2

What do milia look like?

Milia look like tiny pearly white bumps just under the skin's surface. They most often occur on the face and scalp, with clusters common on the upper cheeks and around the eyes. Their small size and shallow position distinguish them from the larger lumps that people often picture when they hear cyst.13

Why do these cysts form?

Milia form when dead skin cells become trapped beneath new skin instead of shedding. Some develop after skin damage, including burns or blisters, or as a reaction to a heavy cream or ointment. Milia can affect children and adults as well as newborns.2

Are milia the same as whiteheads or larger cysts?

Do milia need treatment?

Treatment is not necessary. Newborn milia usually disappear within a few weeks; adults can have them for a few weeks to a couple of months, and some types last longer. Do not squeeze or scrape them, because this can cause infection or permanent scarring. Do not use adult lotions or oils on a baby.2

If appearance is the concern, a clinician can remove milia by making a small, superficial opening and extracting the contents. This is different from removing a larger cyst and its entire wall. Being in the same cyst family does not mean every bump needs the same procedure.3

Arrange an examination if the bumps worsen or are not improving after a few months. Milia can usually be diagnosed by looking at the skin; tests are not normally needed. A biopsy, which examines a small skin sample, is sometimes used when closer investigation is necessary.2

Does "milia like cysts" mean the same thing?

Not necessarily. In dermoscopy, an examination of skin using magnification, milia like cysts are white or yellow keratin containing structures within another skin growth. They are characteristic of seborrhoeic keratoses and can also appear in other lesions, including moles. The phrase describes a feature used to help identify the surrounding growth, rather than automatically diagnosing ordinary milia.45