About milia

Milia are tiny lumps or blisters that sometimes come up on babies’ faces soon after birth. They happen when the sweat glands get blocked. The glands get blocked because they aren’t yet fully developed.

Milia are very common.

Symptoms of milia

In newborns, milia look like white lumps or small clear blisters. They come up mostly on the nose and cheeks, but they can appear anywhere on the face. The blisters can break easily and can leave a scaly lump.

Milia are usually less than 1 mm across, but they can measure up to 3 mm.

They don’t hurt or itch.

Does your child need to see a doctor about milia?

Probably not. But if you notice redness, swelling or crusting around the milia, take your child to see your GP.

Treatment for milia

In newborns, you don’t need to treat milia with creams or ointments, because they’ll go away by themselves without any treatment. They usually go away within weeks or months after birth.

They don’t leave scars so don’t try to burst them. Be patient and wait for them to go away naturally.

Milia prevention

Milia are hard to prevent, but it can help to gently wash your baby’s face every day and pat dry. Avoid pinching, squeezing or scrubbing the lumps.