TROUBLE SPOTS

A DERMATOLOGIST TELLS LARA OWEN THE DOS AND DON'TS OF DEALING WITH MILIA

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THEY’RE tiny, pearly and almost impossible to ignore once you've spotted them. Milia - often called "milk spots" due to their white drop-like appearance - tend to cluster around the eyes and cheeks.

They look like whiteheads, but try to squeeze one and you'll quickly realise they are something entirely different.

Unlike a typical spot, milia don't respond to pressure, drying lotions or pimple patches. And in many cases, the more you interfere, the worse your skin looks.

A dermatologist tells us how to tackle them.

What exactly are milia?

“Milia are tiny, firm, white cysts that sit just under the skin,” explains dermatologist Dr Nora Jaafar, known online as Dr Nora. “They're made of trapped keratin, not oil.”

She adds. “That's why they feel harder and won't 'pop' like a spot.”

Why do milia form?