Tiny white spot

[monkeysmama]

I have a tiny white spot on my face. It's like a slightly bigger version of the spots newborns get. What might have caused it and most importantly, how can I get rid of it? I tried spot cream but it's done nothing.

TIA.

[maxybrown]

squeeze it?

[monkeysmama]

I tried! It isn't that kind of spot. it's like the milk spots babies get, just bigger.

[bosch]

Sorry, this is going to be way tmi but I've had a few spots like that, they don't ever seem to go away on their own. Two around my eye area I've squeezed/scratched and a little 'seed' of white comes out and then it heals with no scar. A third in the inner corner of my eye, the gp says leave well alone in case of infection. Don't recall what she called them.

[maxybrown]

ooh yes bosch - know what you mean! My friend used to call them soap spots you have to really really have a good go at them though to get the "seed of white out" - I get them at the top of my arm

[skyebluepink]

Sounds like milia. Either go to a facialist - check before that they do milia removal. Or go in with a needle. (probably the first option is best!)

[Geepers]

I get these. Just prick the centre with needle and then they disappear.

[apple99]

Use a needle to prick the spot and then a very hard squeeze should get the white out. I think they are called milia, they never shift on their own.

[Imnotaslimjim]

If its milia, massage it 3-4 times a day, with a tiny drop of olive oil or similar. The white seed is actually a fatty deposit and you have to soften it to get it out. I get loads of them and i've found this very effective. Dr says there's nothing that stops them, so you can only treat them as they appear

[Enraha]

They are milia. You shouldn't really tackle them without specialist tools as they can be quite deep and can scar or get infected. They are not spots in the normal sense, they are more like cysts. If they bother you, you should really see a dermatologist or go to a more clinical-style salon. They sometimes break down on their own.

[YouCantTeuchThis]

I have these and I would second not squeezing or poking with a needle (near your eye, goddamit?!) Gentle massage with a very fine exfoliator or facial oil definitely helps, as does the sun (for me).

And they do scar if you squeeze enough [30 years of bitter experience and scars to prove it]

[Havingkittens]

Yep, Milia, usually around the eye area or areas of thinner skin. Most often caused by using face cream that is too rich for that area of skin. People often ask why they should bother using a separate eye cream and wonder whether it's a con. The molecules in eye cream are much smaller and absorb into the thinner skin more easily. A lot of face creams, especially thick ones for dry skin can cause Milia. Sometimes they just occur naturally though. Very gentle exfoliation should help a bit eventually. Not anything grainy. More like a cleanser that contains lactic acid or something similar.

[PinotLovesRonWeasley]

Ooh milia! I love it when you get the seed out.

[bosch]

Havingkittens, that's really interesting point you make about rich face cream. I do use a separate eye cream but then go over whole face with day or night cream. Will stop straightaway.

Don't suppose anyone else has had one in the corner of their eye. I did have one in the other eye too but it just seemed to 'rub away' one day - which is pretty much what you're all saying should happen. Quite sure I don't rub eye cream into there though.

[Panzee]

I had one on my nose for what seemed like forever. I had grown used to it and assumed it was there to stay. Until a day in the sun without suncream led to an unfortunate peeling incident. It came out very nicely! :o So I think exfoliation might be the way to go.

[YouCantTeuchThis]

my beautician friend also told me that 'shimmery' make-up can make them worse, which includes light-reflecting bases designed for black circles, etc.

[TracyK]

I think if you google Millia you can get a 'tool' to get it out. I have one near the inner corner of my eye and my beautcian said she wasn't comfortable removing it in case it bled! Grr - I keep meaning to get one of the tools and having a go on my own - it's v. annoying. Although I have been giving it an extra seeing to when I've been using my face wash and getting my aha eye cream onto it (when I would normally stop my cream application way before the inner corners) and it seems to be shrinking.

[freerangeeggs]

I've had a couple, my bf sometimes gets them too. Dead easy to remove.

I just get a needle and very gently open them and remove the middley bit.

It doesn't hurt at all.

If you do it right it will only leave a tiny red mark for a day or so and it won't bleed.

[moragbellingham]

IME the longer you leave them, the bigger they get - but only very slowly. They are sort of encased in a tough scar like tissue which I break with a needle at the side to make a tiny hole and then squeeze the offending little bugger out!

[TheMadonnaWithTheBigBoobies]

Oooh, white hard spots around the eye are cholesterol linked I think. Hang on... Yep they are look:

www.ehow.com/how_2095189_detect-cholesterol-deposits-eyelids.html

[TheMadonnaWithTheBigBoobies]

Sorry

www.ehow.com/how_2095189_detect-cholesterol-deposits-eyelids.html

[monkeysmama]

Thanks for all the replies!

Mine isn't by my eye - it is on my cheek. Will see if I can withstand the desire to pin prick and squeeze it until I can get it looked at.