The short answer: Sunscreen does not worsen milia, it prevents them instead! Milia are like the pesky house guests that come uninvited, and often overstay their welcome. What are they and will your regular skincare make it worse?
Let's start from ground zero. What exactly are milia?
The term milia refers small, keratin-filled cysts that can be seen in all age groups. These cysts can be solitary (milium) or appear in clusters (milia). They are most commonly seen in infants but adults can also develop milia on the face, including very delicate areas like the eyelids.
What causes milia to form?
Milia form as a consequence of the skin’s localized inability to naturally exfoliate. Dead skin cell build up from underneath, causing a bump to form. Unlike acne, milia are cysts, do not form from a pore and typically do not get inflamed or develop redness or swelling. They often have this milky, pearl like appearance and usually come in clusters.
Factors that cause inability to exfoliate include - sun damage, harsh products, excessively heavy products over delicate areas of the face.
How can we get rid of milia?
The simple answer is exfoliation. Depending on your skin type, consider these different exfoliants - lactic acid for dry skin, glycolic acid for normal skin, salicylic acid for oily skin types. Apply small amounts over affected areas and monitor over time! Including retinol in your routine can also help with regeneration and improving cell turnover to obtain your smooth and healthy skin appearance.
The best option of course is prevention!! With gentle products, sun protection and regular exfoliation milia can easily be avoided. Many people avoid eye creams and sunscreens over the periorbital areas / around the eye because of milia concerns. However - this is not only wrong but will result in worsening milia and hyperpigmentation!
The correct approach would be to choose the right products that can give your skin what it needs. Instead of a thick creamy sunscreen for example, consider a serum or lotion, like our bareness.spf! It is lightweight, has yummy goodies for your skin and packs a punch when it comes to sun protection. Also consider switching out your eye cream to a serum or lotion.
Another big tip would be to clean off your undereye makeup well - and exfoliate regularly. Many women love to pack on the concealer over the undereye region and often alot of residue is left behind. This prevents your skin over the localized area to exfoliate naturally and may result in milia. So minimize makeup if you can and clean it off well - we recommend either an oil based make up remover, oil cleanser or micellar water followed by your regular gel or foam cleanser.