How to treat milia

[MamaAwayOnBusiness]

Hi, I have little deep white spots around the top of my cheeks, had them most of my adult life but they are starting to bother me now as I have more fine wrinkles, it's starting to look messy round there. I have dyhadrated skin, I exfoliate twice or three times a week, use hydrating mask one or twice a week, hydrating serum after cleansing every day followed by a moisturiser with hylaruonic acid. I mostly use Clarins and Neals Yard products. I read that

salicylic acid Exfoliator may help bit im scared to ise it as it may overdry my face. Not sure if it's relevant but I tend to make up only three days a week. Anyone got rid of them successfuly without going to a dermatologist?

I have one. It is shrinking pretty fast with use of Bravura London Salycylic peel 3 times a week.

Also avoid makeup and skincare with silicon in them now.

I get them sometimes and have had them removed at a beauty salon before. No scarring either as a very very fine needle is used to get them out. I did manage to get one out myself once but it left a little scar so I would rather pay a salon to do them.

Thank you both. judgelionel if they are removed one by one it would probably cost me hundreds, I have lots!
PitPat what's your skin type, you don't find that the peel dries all the oil? I guess I can try before going to beauty therapist. What's the reason for no silicon, I haven't read that anywhere being a factor?

I have pretty standard combination skin. The Bravura peel is really mild, and I only leave it on for a few minutes. It's designed to be used every other day. I follow up the peel with a hyaluronic serum mixed into a little moisturising mask and just left on like a extra special moisturiser.

The avoiding silicone comes from my never having milia until I started using Glamglow Thirsty Mud. It was the only addition to my skincare routine at the time and a milia popped up soon after. I generally avoid silicone as I know a) it's cheap b) when I use it on my hair it is drying so I thought it might have the same effect on my skin. I made an exception for Glamglow based on a recommendation and then wished I hadn't!

How does the salon remove them, judgelionel? Did it leave a mark? I had a quotation to get all of mine done by a cosmetic surgery place, but I was put off by them saying I'd have noticeable blood blister-type scabs for a week or so afterwards.

I use a very fine needle and get them out myself. Could you not do this?

redhat I have little clusters of these on my cheeks. Would a sewing needle do?

PitPat that's really helpful, thank you very much. I'm going to order the peel and see how I get on. That prompted me also to have a check of my other beauty products for silicone.
redhat there are lots of them and they seem quite deep, I wouldn't know where to begin doing them myself. And the idea of needle on my face terrifies me, I'd prefer to see if I can use a product or add/remove something from my routine before I go treatment way.

Did anyone have this done by a dermatologist, and how much does it cost?

I had one on my cheek, hadn't a clue what it was until I read another thread on here. Following the advice on there, I attacked it with a needle (a 6mm medical one) and took great satisfaction in popping it! It blinking hurt though ... took a few days to heal but didn't leave a scar. Have another teeny one very close to my eye on side of nose but am not brave enough ignoring it for now!

I use a very thin sewing needle but I only get the occasional one. It doesn't hurt at all and I have never had any problem with scarring. All you are doing is making a tiny hole for the sebum to come out of. Less chance of scarring than if you squeezed and split the skin.

I found that exfoliating every day took mine away without any problem. Mine appeared after using Alpha H glycolic peel regularly, there must be different triggers for different skins.