Home Remedies to Treat Milia

Everyone longs for flawless, blemish-free skin. But when you fail to take care of your skin, it starts giving you trouble. Milia is one such problem that arises as hard white or yellowish bumps. Milk spots, as they are also known, are cysts filled with keratin. Even though they are quite harmless, they are often considered ugly, and hence irritating. While the issue is prevalent across ages, it persists in adults for months or even years.

Milia generally appear under the eyes and can also be seen on the nose, forehead, cheeks, and chest. These cysts are harmless and in adults can persist for months and in some cases up to years. This condition is caused when the skin is not able to remove dead cells and leading to clogged skin pores. Milia can also be caused due to pore-clogging skin care products, blistering injuries, sun damage, and prolonged use of steroid creams. Some natural remedies for milia are discussed in the following lines; read on for more information.

List of Top 16 Home Remedies to Treat Milia

1. Do the Basic Cleansing

• It involves the simple procedure of washing your face with a mild soap or cleanser which is fragrance-free and does not have too much artificial color or chemicals
• It can be done twice daily, depending on your routine. Always ensure to wash your face after returning home because outside exposure collects dirt and dust, and then follow it before going to bed
• Pat your face gently with a soft, clean towel, and done!

2. Steam your skin to unclog

• Since milia develop due to dead cells which are not able to fall off on their own, they need some treatment that will help to loosen and pull away the unwanted deposits
• After washing your face, take nice facial steam to unclog the pores and remove the impurities. This is quite simple
• Boil some water in a container and very carefully place it where you can sit comfortably, bending your face towards it
• Drape a towel over your head and hold your face over the pot allowing the steam to reach your face
• Don’t go beyond 10 minutes and don’t go too close to the hot water because this can cause inflammation
• After this, wash your face with fresh water and then tone it up by applying some rosewater
• Facial steaming can be done once a week because more than this may dry up your skin

3. Honey

This golden-hued semi-viscous liquid is a natural humectant rich in antioxidant properties. Just applying honey on the face could help in eliminating the bacteria that would have clogged the pores, causing milia.

Alternatively, you can prepare a mixture by blending one tablespoon of honey with half a tablespoon of coconut oil. Cleanse your face with warm water and dab dry. Apply this mixture to your face and leave it on for 20 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water and dry using a soft cotton cloth. Repeat this four times a week until the cysts disappear.

• Apply raw honey on the face, leave on for 15 minutes and rinse it off. It should be done on a regular basis till you see the improvement
• Mix 2 tbsp of honey with 2 tbsp of jojoba oil and apply on the face for 15 minutes, rinse off well. It should be done on a regular basis till you see the improvement
• To make an effective face scrub, mix 1 tbsp of granulated sugar with 3 tbsp of oatmeal. Rub this scrub for several minutes on the face and then rinse off. Follow this method twice a week till bumps are not seen

4. Sugar and lemon juice

Exfoliating regularly is essential to ensure that your pores are open and your skin is fresh. Lemon is an astringent while the coarse nature of sugar helps in removing the dead cells. Mix 2 tbsp brown sugar with the juice of half a lemon and 1 tsp coconut oil. Apply this mixture to cleansed face and massage gently in circular motions. Wash off with warm water after 20 minutes. Repeat the process twice a week until milia completely disappear.

5. Pomegranate peel

This ruby red fruit peel is a good source of vitamin C, which is a natural exfoliating agent. Roast the peel until dark and powder it so that you could use it to clear out the milia. Mix 2 tbsp pomegranate peel powder with lemon juice sufficient to make a coarse, spreadable paste. Apply the paste on the face and massage in gentle circular motions. Leave on for 20 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water.

6. Baking soda

Baking soda is a powerful antibacterial agent that ensures that your pores are not clogged with debris and infections. It is also an effective cure for milia caused due to sun damage. Mix 3 tbsp baking soda with a sufficient amount of water to prepare a thick paste. Apply it to your face after cleaning it. Wash off after 20 to 30 minutes with lukewarm water. You can also prepare a pack by mixing baking soda with castor oil. Apply to the affected area and massage gently. Leave for half an hour and wash off with lukewarm water.

7. Lemon salt honey scrub

Lemon is an astringent and salt is a natural exfoliating agent with antibacterial properties while honey is a natural humectant and antioxidant. Mix 2 tbsp lemon juice with ½ tsp salt and 1 tbsp honey. Soak a clean cotton ball in this mixture and dab on the affected area. Wash off with warm water after 20 minutes.

8. Green gram flour with turmeric

Turmeric has natural antiseptic, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties while green gram flour has the power to absorb excess oil from the skin. Mix 1 tbsp green gram flour with 1 tsp turmeric powder and 1 tbsp coconut oil. Apply the mixture to your face and massage gently to exfoliate your skin. Wash off with lukewarm water and follow up with a good moisturizing lotion.

9. Egg white with almond oil

Mix one egg white with half a teaspoon almond oil, one tablespoon yogurt, and one tablespoon warmed honey. Blend the mixture well. Cleanse your face with lukewarm water and apply this mixture as a thin layer. Leave on for 30 minutes or until dry. Wash off with warm water. Dab dry and follow up with a good moisturizer to heal milia.

10. Neem and chickpea flour

Chickpea flour has been used for a time unknown by Indian women as a vital ingredient in their beauty regimen. Its coarse nature makes it a natural scrub. Neem is a natural antibacterial element that also possesses the potential to absorb the dirt, dead cells, and debris hidden in those keratin cysts of milk spots. Mix 1 tbsp neem powder with ½ a tablespoon chickpea flour. Add a sufficient amount of jojoba oil to make a paste of spreadable consistency. Apply as a thick layer on cleansed face and wash off after the mixture dries to reveal a blemish-free face.

11. Sandalwood

Sandalwood has the potential to heal the damages caused by excessive exposure to the sun. Mix a sufficient amount of sandalwood powder with rose water to make a thick paste. Apply this to your cleansed skin and massage in gentle clockwise and anticlockwise motions. Leave on for 30 minutes or until dry and wash off with lukewarm water. This helps in the elimination of dead cells from the clogged pores, thereby reducing milk spots. Please use a moisturizer after you apply this pack as sandalwood powder has a tendency to dry out your skin.

12. Fenugreek leaves

These bitter greens are rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Wash one cup of fenugreek leaves in water until it is free from dirt. Grind it into a thick paste with very less water. Add 1 tbsp of yogurt and mix well. Apply the paste to the area where there are milia. Wait for 20 minutes before rinsing off with lukewarm water. You could use this process daily until milia vanish.

13. Milk

A mixture of warm milk with turmeric powder and salt can be used effectively to ward off these pesky spots. Just mix 2 tbsp whole milk with 1 tsp turmeric powder and 1 tbsp salt. Apply this mixture to your face and massage in a circular motion gently. Wait for 15 to 20 minutes before washing off with water. While turmeric fights the infection, salt eliminates the debris and dead skin cells. Milk effectively softens the area and clears the blemishes.
Try these simple home cures for milia from nature and enjoy flawless skin!

14. Facial Sauna

Facial sauna helps treat milia by unclogging the skin pores and removing dead skin cells and debris by loosening the skin.

• Take steam on your face for 10 to 15 minutes every day until milia clear away. After steam treatment, apply castor oil or apple cider vinegar
• Alternatively, you can soak a clean towel in hot water and drain out excess water, place the towel on your face for a few minutes and remove it. This process should be treated a couple of times and should be done for about a week

15. Castor oil

This oil has antibacterial and healing properties, thus, helping cure oil production. This helps treat various skin problems, reducing acne and milia issues in the skin.

• Apply castor oil to the face and leave it on till it is completely absorbed in the skin. It can be continued for several months
• You can also mix the same amount of castor oil with olive oil and apply in the same way as above
• Mix 1 tbsp of castor oil with baking soda and apply on the affected area, leave for a few hours and then wash off. Repeat the process for two weeks daily

16. Sugar scrub

This scrub is highly beneficial in fighting milia by exfoliating the skin. Take half lemon juice, and add 1 tbsp of granulated sugar and 1 tsp of olive oil. Use this scrub for 20 minutes and wash it off. It should be repeated twice a week for a few months till improvement is seen.

Common Areas Affected by Milia

• Under the Eyes: Most common area, sensitive to product build-up.
• Cheeks: Visible on the cheeks, especially with clogged pores.
• Nose: Milia can form around and on the nose due to blocked oil ducts.
• Forehead: May appear due to sweat or skincare product build-up.
• Chin: Clogged pores from cosmetics often lead to milia on the chin.

Causes of Milia

• Newborn babies get milia because their skin has not been exfoliated, and doctors usually don’t recommend any treatment for this because they fall off on their own. So new moms need not worry about their baby’s skin because it will shed away the bumps as the baby grows. All you need to do is bath the baby with lukewarm water every day and gently pat dry it
• Adults or teens usually get milia due to skin conditions that cause blisters, burns, with long-term use of steroid creams or due to over-exposure to the sun

Prevention Tips for Milia

• Use Non-Comedogenic Products: Opt for products that do not clog pores.
• Regular Exfoliation: Exfoliate weekly to remove dead skin cells.
• Protect Skin from Sun: Use sunscreen to prevent skin damage and pore clogging.
• Gentle Cleansing: Avoid harsh cleansers; use mild ones instead.
• Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water for healthy skin.

Don’t worry. Above home, treatments can help exfoliate and get rid of these white pops!