Treating Baby Milia

As you may know, milia is the clinical term for those whitish bumps which may appear on your baby’s chin, nose or cheeks. Milia are not serious and tend to resolve on their own. Many people refer to milia as “baby acne”, even though it really isn’t a form of acne.

Milia occurs when dead skin gets trapped in the pores around the baby’s nose and mouth. It can be present at birth, or may appear soon after. It tends to disappear within the first few weeks of life.

Some parents are able to let the milia resolve on its own; others feel that they’d like to find a cure or treatment for milia.

Some ideas:

Gently wash the baby’s face using tepid water two or three times away. Pat dry. Do not rub. Do not use oils, lotions, or any other products.

Do not scrub, squeeze, or pinch baby milia- this can aggravate the condition and may lead to infection.

If the milia persists for more than three months, seek advice from your doctor. Until then, sit tight.

New parents tend to blame themselves if their baby develops milia; as they tend to feel they are cleaning the baby well or wiping his or her face properly- this is not the case. Just bathe the baby’s face (gently) in tepid water, and wait for the milia to clear on its own. Seek medical advice if the milia appears to be worsening or lasts longer than a few months.