People with acne are usually familiar with whiteheads (milium), however they don't know what causes them or how to get rid of them. The difference between this and a blackhead is that blackheads are exposed to oxygen which causes the black appearance.

MILIA (whiteheads)

Milia are deep seeded white bumps that form when skin cells and sebaceous matter become trapped rather than exfoliate naturally. Milia can occur anywhere on the skin and are prone around eye area and cheeks. As the surface is worn away, the tiny white bumps) may resolve on its own. Far too often, though, intervention to remove the cyst (white bump) through extractions using a lancet may offer more rapid resolution. Best done by a professional!!!! Exfoliation can go a long way in helping deal with milia prone skin. By keeping the epidermis thin and smooth, you can cut down on their formation. By mentioning exfoliation, I'm not talking about scrubbing off the top layer of your skin! One way is to use a gentle exfoliating scrub 1-2 times a week another is to undergo a periodic series of gentle peels and/or using aha (alpha hydroxy acid) or beta hydroxy acid (salicylic acid) creams at home and regular use of clay masks can help remove unwanted surface debris and cleanse the pores.

Milia can be caused by:

- Heavy Skin Care Products: The most common reason for milia is applying to your skin heavy skin care products not suited for your skin type or poor quality product.

They may prevent the sloughing of dead epidermal skin cells. I find that many moisturisers with sunscreens or heavy sunscreens are culprits to this problem. The eyelids are very thin and more likely to experience problems with milia due to cosmetics. Re-evaluate your eye cream, make-up and eyelid make-up remover if you are finding this to be a concern.

- Sun Exposure: Due to sun exposure skin forms a thicker epidermis and thicker skin makes for more road blocks in the pathway to exfoliation. This is where peels (glycolic,pumpkin, bha or other) really make a difference! This is another reason why I do ecommend to use aha creams after the summer months!

- Or maybe you just have the type of skin which has the inability to exfoliate itself properly!

Whitehead Treatment

If you are experiencing a problem with whiteheads, there are many treatment options available that could clear your skin right up. The Derma Cleanse Acne Treatment System cleans, tones, and detoxifies your skin. It also regulates the hormones in your body to normalize the oil secretion. You do not have to see a dermatologist to get this medicine, even though it is recommended by most of them. Using a deep pore cleanser can prevent whiteheads from ever forming. It could also help to gently dislodge existing spots over time. Even though the chance of scarring from a whitehead is very unlikely, you should still never attempt to remove them yourself. It will only damage your skin and cause an infection. The contents leaking onto your skin can also cause more acne to form. A doctor can remove them individually for you in his office, using sterile tool.

If you prefer to use a prescription provided by your dermatologist than deal with your whiteheads, a commonly prescribed medicine is Differin gel. It is a topical retinoid treatment that works to reduce inflammation involved with acne, as well as increases cell formation. It is more effective than other medicines such as Retin-A and it is also less irritating. It is alcohol free and it light and non-greasy. For patients with extremely sensitive skin, there is also less-harsh Differin cream. Most people with whiteheads also suffer from other forms of acne that this medicine would be beneficial to use for as well. He/She may also choose to prescribe an oral contraceptive as a way to regulate hormones in females. This is also beneficial in clearing up most types of acne.

By John Wellington & L. Fournier

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