Milium cysts are small, hard white bumps that appear on the face, particularly around the nose and on the eyelids. Generally, they are not painful. However, if you are dealing with a milium cyst that is causing discomfort, here is what you should do.
Painful milia: what to do?
Published on March 25, 2024, by Kahina, Scientific Editor — 3 min of reading
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How to deal with a painful milium cyst?
According to the current scientific literature on the subject, a milium cyst is not painful. It is neither innervated nor vascularised: therefore, it is impossible to feel pain from this cyst. It only contains dead cells, particularly lamellar keratin.
However, if you still feel pain in your milia, it could be another skin condition similar to milia. This is the case with whiteheads, these closed comedones containing sebum and bacteria. These are indicative of inflammation and therefore can be painful. Furthermore, a milium can become infected if it has not been extracted under proper conditions. In this case, the milium can potentially cause pain and lead to painful bacterial dermatoses such as boils in the affected area. However, these scenarios have not been scientifically proven.
So, if you notice a painful discomfort from a milium cyst, or have the slightest doubt, first avoid handling the affected area as you risk causing infections. Then, visit your dermatologist so they can make an accurate diagnosis of your situation and propose suitable treatments.
Sources
ROSS J.B. & al. Multiple eruptive milia: Report of a case, review of the literature, and a classification. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (1997).
BAYLISS S.J. and BERK D.R. Milia: A review and classification. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2008).
GAGEY-CARON V. and BARBAROT S. Les grains de milium de l’enfant. Annales de dermatologie et de vénéréologie (2009).
TROUCHE F. Les infections bactériennes. Dermato-Info (2019).
MENDEZ M.D. and GALLARDO AVILA P. Milia. StatPearls (2023).
