Article: Those Hard White Bumps

THOSE HARD WHITE BUMPS
by
Sandra Surbrugg M.D.

When they appear on the face, in particular, the hard white bumps known as milia are often confused with whiteheads. However, while whiteheads are due to blocked pores and usually heal spontaneously, milia are benign cysts that do not disappear of their own accord. They are caused by a combination of sun damage and the age-related slowdown of cell turnover. As a preventive measure, over-the-counter skin creams containing alphahydroxy acids or retinoids may be used to exfoliate the skin and accelerate cell turnover. Once milia appears, the dermatologist may use a small instrument to remove the cysts. Prescription-strength creams containing the same active ingredients in over-the-counter preparations may also be used to remove very small cysts.

Whether you have whiteheads or milia, if you have an unsightly or troubling skin condition that does not respond to your normal, at home, skin care regimen, please seek professional help from your dermatologist. People who self-medicate may misdiagnose their problems and then treat themselves with the wrong products. In that case, they may see no improvement - or worse; the wrong preparations may aggravate the problem,. For professional dermatology care, phone CHEYENNE SKIN CLINIC at 635-0226. Our offices are conveniently located at 123 Western Hills Boulevard. New patients are welcome.

P.S. Children have also been known to develop milia after experiencing severe sunburns.