How to Extract Milia

You can remove milia yourself or have a dermatologist do it.

Milia occur commonly on both men and women and are often mistaken for tiny whiteheads. However, instead filling with pus and white blood cells, milia are made up of built-up keratin. While they don't cause any harm, milia can make people feel uncomfortable about their appearance, especially since they show up in visible places like the eyelid, cheeks and arms. Fortunately, it is possible to remove the little white bumps via an extracting tool.

Things You'll Need

• Skin soap
• Water
• Towel
• Lancet
• Extractor tool/Curette

Instructions

1. Wash the affected area with mild soap and water. If washing your face, use a mild face wash. Pat dry with a clean towel.

2. Use a lancet to poke a tiny hole into one milia at a time. To do this, hold the lancet between your thumb and forefinger and poke the center of the milia gently. One small hole is all you need. Use a mirror if the milia is on your face or hard to see.

3. Place an extractor tool over the milia. You can find this tool at most pharmacies or cosmetic stores. It's looks liked a 6- to 10-inch-long rod with an open circle at on one end. Place the open circle around the milia and press down firmly.

4. Slowly push the extractor tool over the milia, still pressing down firmly against the skin. Repeat this several times, if necessary, to get out all the white keratin built up in the skin. Do this for each milia.

5. Wash the face once again to remove any keratin residue. Gently pat dry.

References

• YouTube: Milia Extraction
• Derma Doctor: Milia