Milia on cheeks
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free skin care · Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:05 pm

I have milia on my cheeks...very deep. I use retin a and obagi (which I love) but the milia does not budge. I know I can go to a dermatologist but has anyone out there tried anything else that works?

free skin care · Mon Mar 03, 2008 5:42 am

I'd be interested in knowing as well. In the summer my pores get this "backup" sort of reaction & I end up with dozens of bumps. Most go away but some hang around & are as hard to get rid of as milia. A trip to the dermatologist always helps but I come out looking like I'm recovering from chicken pox. Yikes! Not pretty.
I use Tazorac & exfoliate all the time but to no avail!

free skin care · Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:11 am

I've just recently started to have this problem. I agree that it seems like there's no good way to get rid of them. They will get worse before they get better...but I seem to have developed them from exfoliating too much (according to my facialist) and the only solution she said was to keep exfoliating until they're out completely. I took her advice and though I have red spots, the bumps are gone and the spots are starting to fade, so perhaps exfoliating would work? I use Dermalogica daily microfoliant, daily. Sometimes I just mix it in with my cleanser to save time, but since it got me into this mess, it also seems to get me out. HTH!

free skin care · Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:02 am

I used to have this issue but only on my forehead. I agree about exfoliation, it's all that has ever helped me and patience as they are very stubborn. Also, be sure you aren't using anything in your makeup that could be making them worse..blush, etc.. Good luck!

free skin care · Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:38 pm

That's what I am afraid of..maybe it is my makeup although I use BM and it is supposed to be good for your skin. I think I need to get to a derm and have them removed. I can't believe that retin a doesn't make them budge!

free skin care · Mon May 05, 2008 10:28 am

babs1031 wrote:

That's what I am afraid of..maybe it is my makeup although I use BM and it is supposed to be good for your skin. I think I need to get to a derm and have them removed. I can't believe that retin a doesn't make them budge!

Yeah, I know. I would think that retin a would help too. AH lotions temporarily helped with my forehead but ultimately the bumps returned. Another thing to consider, maybe there is something in the BM that you are sensitive too or it could even be your brushes. Scratchy brushes gave me bumps and itchies on my cheeks when I thought it was the bismuth in the BE. I now use a good soft kabuki and a really soft skunk brushes for blush and I'm good now. I also avoid any blush with too much mica or glitter because that seems to cause me some irritation bumps. These may not be the same thing you are experiencing, but just thought I would mention it. You may want to make sure your blush brushes are really getting cleaned too, could be some bacteria breaking you out? I wash my brushes in a mild baby type shampoo but on occasion will wash them with an anti-bacterial soap. It doesn't seem to hurt them at all.

HTH!

Heather Very Happy

free skin care · Mon May 05, 2008 10:39 am

I think that you really should examine your use of BE. I used it about three years ago, only for a month or so and I had more clogged pores (more like mila- that had a consistency of rice when I extracted them) and I stopped using it immediately when I figured out what was causing it. Also a girl in my office swears by BE, but she said that she does not know why she has "rice" like clogged pores. She said she is happy the the BE covers it. (well I did not have the heart to tell her, one...it is not covering it and two....the BE is causing it. When I stopped using BE, I went to my local spa and had three facials done (one right after another) to clear these up. For these rice like substance never to return since I stopped using BE. My clogged pores from using BE was much much different than my normal clogged pores.

free skin care · Mon May 05, 2008 2:53 pm

All that buffing that mineral lines encourage can make milia form. Synthetic hair brushes are softer or you can try using a flocked sponge to apply. Products that are too rich for your face can clog your pores along with the possible tearing of the skin with buffing can form the milia. AHA or extractions can help reduce them.

free skin care · Mon May 05, 2008 3:01 pm

You know I never thought of that, I had a few of them under my eyes recently. But I noticed that I am getting more clogged pores, similar to the milia you all are talking about and never attributed them to BE. I like the feel of MMU on my skin and just assumed it was better than the cakey liquid makeup. It is a vicious cycle, because I am using the makeup to cover blemishes and getting blemishes from the makeup.

Has anyone used a MMU that doesn't clog the pores or cause this milia?

free skin care · Mon May 05, 2008 3:10 pm

Hi
I have used TRUE mineral makeup for quite a while. I recently switched to Glo Minerals. Jury is still out, but I have been using Glo for a month and a half and I do not have any of milia like I had with using BE. Plus as others have said, the buffing can be really rough on the skin to, I almost think that the buffing drives the mineral powder under the skin into the pores. I use a very fluffy soft brush and do a blend, but easy in round circles. But to get the coverage I want, I do a very light layer, I spray it with a mineral mist and then do another light layer and spray again. If I do have some blemishes that need a littl extra coverage, I use a small stiff brush and put some mineral makeup on it and pat it into the blemish, so that it is covered. Spray again...

free skin care · Mon May 05, 2008 6:52 pm

The brand of MMU (Raesin Images) I use specifically says that buffing is very bad for your skin, and can be very damaging. Sad

Quote:

I like to remind women that our products are not like Id bare escentuals or bareminerals. RAESIN IMAGES mineral cosmetic face powder foundations don’t need excessive buffing to apply. Not only is all this buffing unnecessary it can be damaging to your skin if you are using harsh brushes, as each time a harsh bristle (and there can be hundreds of them) touches your delicate skin, it can cause small abrasions for bacteria to enter underlying skin layers causing sensitivity, itching, acne, and skin infection. Please do not use harsh or synthetic brushes when applying your cosmetics except where indicated necessary as in taklon eyeliner brushes. http://www.raesinimages.com/mineral%20makeup%20foundation%20tips.htm

free skin care · Mon May 05, 2008 9:18 pm

I am really having second thoughts now about the BE. There are so many conflicting reports...good for your skin, not good..which ones do you believe?

I think I will get to a derm...have these removed and skip the BE and see what happens.

Thanks to you all for your advice!

free skin care · Mon May 05, 2008 10:42 pm

I used to have a lot of milia-like congestion from using MMU, but they were transient and would go away with consistent exfoliation. I had a few around the eye area and places that I'd used rich products, those took forever to purge - and I had to massage tea tree oil into it everyday until it dried up. Has anyone tried to manually remove milia? It can be done at some stages, like when the skin is softer and when the milia has been pushed to the surface more after a series of massage extraction techniques.

free skin care · Tue May 06, 2008 3:24 am

Wow, I really never thought the buffing action was driving the makeup into my pore. What a nightmare, they claim they are better for your skin because the lack of chemicals. I mean, my skin doesn't have breakouts or anything, but the milia is annoying.

I have extracted the ones on my cheek by hand. I mean, it was easy like a black head. However, the ones near my eye.....are impossible. I have stopped using my eye cream, under eye concealer. Started using retin A, and some exfoliation...but the only thing that helps is time.

Bergquis, let me know how the Glo minerals work and what is mineral mist?

free skin care · Tue May 06, 2008 7:08 am

Hi
So far I am okay with the glo minerals powder, but like I said previously the jury is still out. I am finding that I have small clogged pores when I use it. I do believe glo has Bis. Oxy? in it. I don't think my skin likes that ingredient. I recently heard (from EDS of course) that Jane Ir. does not have Bis oxy. any longer??? Is this true? I heard that Jane Ire is similar to glo, but if that ingredient is gone, I may want to try. I hear that the bis. oxy makes people's skin itch. Mine does not itch and I love the coverage, but I know it is pore clogging. I did a test the last couple days. I applied it on my cheeks only and TRUE mineral everywhere else (True does not have the BIS) so, my cheeks have a few clogs today. Umm, maybe not, but I can not help to think so.
So the mineral spray. You can get it just about anywhere, but I bought the True mineral mist, I forget the ingredients, and when I get my bottle of mineral mist, I always split it into two bottles. I then fill it up to the top with purified water. That way it goes farther. The mineral mist just sets the powder so it does not look powdering on the face. I love it. Plus through out the day, If I do feel a little warm, or oily, I remist my face and pat it with a towel. I don't have to reapply my mineral powder, but it looks like I just put it on.
I don't know about you ladies, but I really like the look of my face (powder) about three hours after I apply. I seems to melt into my face and does not look like I am wearing makeup. Very Happy

free skin care · Fri May 09, 2008 5:04 am

Thanks bergquis, i just ordered a sample kit from them so I will see how it works. I like the idea of the mineral mist too. Especially with summer coming up, it would be a great way to cool down and refresh your make up without reapplying. Thanks for the tip on splitting the bottle up!!

free skin care · Fri May 09, 2008 1:59 pm

What does millia look like? I use Alima MMU and I do notice in a magnifying mirror that i have clogged pores in my t-zone. They aren't raised, but I can squeeze them (tisk tisk)and stuff comes out. Is that what millia is?

free skin care · Fri May 09, 2008 3:11 pm

no, I guess the stuff the comes out is hardened sebum. which is,(to give a visual but not to be gross) a streak of soft fatty noodle. afaik, millia is the white bumpy dots(u can see 'em without having to squeeze)

free skin care · Fri May 09, 2008 11:09 pm

babs1031 wrote:

I am really having second thoughts now about the BE. There are so many conflicting reports...good for your skin, not good..which ones do you believe?

I think I will get to a derm...have these removed and skip the BE and see what happens.

Thanks to you all for your advice!

BE is good for your skin in that there are only a few ingredients in the list. But if you have touchy skin and the buffing can irritate your skin with the bismuth.

There are whack loads of mineral lines aside from BE so experiment with some. Lumiere Luminesse is supposed to be similar to the BE in that its glowy.

Sun May 11, 2008 7:27 am

I'm so happy to see some info on this subject!

As a 44 year old woman who eats well and works out regularly I continue to struggle with milia on my forehead.

I've visited numerous dermatologists and all can't help me. The only couple of times it was reduced was when I has full face laser surgery, IPL Laser light and when I went on a Candida diet. A holistic doctor told me it was digestive related.

But enough of that, you are all referring to BE...what is that?

free skin care · Sun May 11, 2008 6:13 pm

BE is Bare Essentials Mineral Makeup. I don't think that is what caused mine as I have had milia before using the mineral makeup. They are almost impossible to get rid of and by reading these posts others are having the same problem.

free skin care · Mon May 12, 2008 8:51 pm

The brand of MMU (Raesin Images) I use specifically says that buffing is very bad for your skin, and can be very damaging. [i]

Woule the aggressive buffing motion of the Clarisonic brush also be considered damaging to your skin?
I have had the Clarisonic for a couple of weeks now, but still cannot get past using it more than every other day, and I have the "gentle" brush head. Still feels scratchy to me, although it is pretty nice on the rest of the body.

Would a soft synthetic brush used for applying liquid foundation be at all damaging? It does push that make-up into my skin pretty well.. And what about all of the chemicals in sunscreen? Could that be the culprit behind these milia?

free skin care · Mon May 12, 2008 8:54 pm

Oops - One or two more questions.. Which is better to see for removing milia - a derm or a facialist? And if it is a facial that really works best, could anyone recommend a certain type of facial that would be best to ask for?

free skin care · Tue May 13, 2008 9:11 pm

I don't want anyone to start doing anything rash, but once or twice I've steamed & exfoliated my face and removed a milia with a needle from the drugstore. You have to be careful to make sure you hold the needle practically horizontal to the skin, to minimize skin trauma. The needle that's always recommended for this type of thing are identical to the ones used to check blood sugar levels in cases of diabetes.

Please don't try it if your shaky, I felt a little nervous posting this one, haha.

HTH

Tue May 13, 2008 9:16 pm

I just got a facial and the lady removed them all except one where it was too close to my eyes. It really hurt though. I had a lot, probably like 10-20 under each eye. My face is really red and swollen though.

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