Milia treatment

[Lollipoplollipops]

My 12 year old has developed bad milia all across her forehead and now under her eyes. It's been several months and is getting worse. We struggle a lot getting her to wash her face properly and I suspect changing hormones hasn't helped her skin.

Can anyone advise how we can treat this? Do we see a dermatologist or a GP?

Also, what skin care routine can I advise her to follow? Right now, she uses a cream face wash and muslin hot cloth every morning and night. Though I suspect she isn't even doing this so I've also bought her disposable face wipes (not ideal but anything to encourage her to clean her face). We need to keep it every simple otherwise she won't follow it.

I've read that gentle exfoliants are recommended if you have milia. Are there any that people recommend?

I've also read about using Paula's Choice liquid exfoliant but I worry that anything with salicylic acid on such young skin is not a good idea.

Or should I just find a good dermatologist and take it from there?

Would appreciate any advice on a good skin care routine to reduce more milia and how we can treat her current milia. Plus generally any advice on how to encourage my tween to look after her skin and develop a simple skin care routine she can get into. If I say anything, she gets all grumpy or tearful (she's at that stage where she's embarrassed or awkward about anything to do with personal hygiene or her changing body even though we've always been very open and upfront in the family about this growing up).

You would have to see private dermatologist for removal. GP won’t refer for them, not in our area at any rate.
If she’s not following basic hygiene routines I’m not sure what to suggest. She’s unlikely to bother with a glycolic toner if she’s avoiding face washing but that can sometimes help.

I sometimes get milia and go to a great beautician who removes them for me. I keep my skin scrupulously clean so I think sometimes you just get them regardless of how clean you keep your skin.

Why don't you take her to get them removed? They are highly unlikely to go away on their own. They're not like ordinary spots.

It takes seconds to have them removed professionally and leaves no marks. And mine haven't come back.

Apart from that's she's 12! Please stop making her feel self conscious about her skin. I'm not surprised she's grumpy and tearful if you keep nagging her to wash her face. Incidentally, face wipes are dreadful things and I wouldn't encourage her to use them. And expecting a 12 year old to use a muslin hot cloth morning and night isn't realistic.

If they're bothering her you can take her to get them removed. Get the beautician to advise what products she should be using to help prevent their return but honestly, I don't think it's anything your DD is doing/not doing that's causing them. They're just one of those things.

Thanks for the response. We'll look for a dermatologist.

I'm not making her self conscious about her skin. We have an ongoing issue with hygiene generally as she doesn't like to shower, wash her hair or face or use deodorant these days. She's also now grumpy if I remind her to brush her teeth because she doesn't sometimes unless asked. I do remind but I would not say I'm nagging (I ask nicely, I don't go on and on, I don't criticise etc). We have a close relationship but I'm conscious she's going through puberty with lots of changes. We tread on egg shells these days as anything we say can lead to her being grumpy, tearful or annoyed! We know it's a phase because of puberty onset that will hopefully pass based on advice I've received from friends with older teenage girls.

I agree on face wipes but it was a last resort as if it means she will clean her face, it's better than not cleaning it at all. The muslin cloth was her idea as this is what I use and she asked for one.

Based on the above, we won't bother with the GP to avoid wasting their time. I will look for a good dermatologist instead.

Sorry @JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn I wasn't implying that you only get milia if you don't keep your face clean. Only that in our case, changing hormones has changed her skin so it's now more oily and not washing her face isn't helping. I agree some folks just get them regardless what they do. Good to know removal is so quick and easy. Thanks!

I'm not an expert, but read a lot about the myths and causes of skin issues and some think a vitamin deficiency adds to the product of milia. Worth thinking about this from point of view of her hormones and that nutrition has an impact on this (some ultra processed foods can really cause chaos on hormones), so may be another line of attack in your arsenal.