Treating Milia — Step-by-Step Photos of Surgical Removal of a Milium
Milium Description
As reported in What is a Milium? Causes & treatments for Milia, a milium is a small, pearly nodule that appears just under the surface of the skin, usually around the nose or eyes. Milia are caused by the clogged secretion of the sebaceous glands. Although milia usually do not require treatment, sometimes surgery is necessary.
A few months ago, three tiny milia formed over time at the corner of my eye where I put my finger when I pop my semi-hard contact lenses out. Apparently, the daily irritation aggravated the milia into one large milium. Since it was becoming more of a cyst instead of normal tiny milia, my dermatologist said it probably would not go away and might continue getting larger (which would make removing it require deeper cutting). We made the decision to remove the milium while it was still small.
I went to Dr. Ann Evers in Nashville who allowed me to take photos during the procedure.
The dermatologist had a nurse numb the area with a local anesthetic. After the area was numb, the doctor cut the milium out.
Because the wound was superficial, it did not require stitches where the milium was removed.
The doctor applied a small bandage since the small wound was open and bleeding.
I was a allowed to remove the bandage a couple of hours after the milium was cut off. Because we removed the milium when the cyst was very small, there will probably be no scar left where the milium was removed. Had we waited until the cyst was larger, it probably would have left a scar.
Milia are not dangerous and usually require no treatment. Often they go away on their own. However, if a milium becomes irritated and enlarged, it is good to consider removing it before it gets bigger.
Less than a week after surgery — while some bruising remains following the surgery, all traces of the milium are gone.
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