Milia are the small, firm, white bumps that appear most often around the eyes, on the cheeks and on the forehead. They are not acne, they do not respond to squeezing, and in adults they rarely go away on their own. At Sage Dermatology, a board-certified dermatologist removes them in a short visit using sterile extraction, and helps you understand why they formed.

What milia are

A milium is a tiny cyst of keratin trapped just beneath the surface of the skin. Milia are harmless. They can appear spontaneously, after skin injury (a burn, a rash, a blistering sunburn, a resurfacing procedure), or with heavy, occlusive skincare around the eyes. Because there is no opening to the surface, they cannot be squeezed out, and attempts to do so usually leave redness, broken skin or a scar.

Coverage and referrals

Milia removal is a cosmetic procedure. It is not covered by OHIP, and no referral is needed. You can book directly with our cosmetic clinic.

How we remove milia

The dermatologist makes a pinpoint opening in the skin over each milium with a sterile instrument and physically extracts the contents. No stitches. Depending on the size and location of the milia, the area is numbed with a topical cream or a small local anaesthetic injection. For some milia, light electrocautery is used instead of, or alongside, extraction. The visit takes 15 to 30 minutes and many milia can be cleared at once. The delicate skin around the eyes is where most milia sit, and where careful, clean technique matters most.

Aftercare and results

Each treated spot looks like a tiny pink mark for a few days and then disappears. There is no downtime, and makeup can be worn the next day. Treated milia do not come back, though new ones can form if the underlying cause continues.

Preventing new milia

If you get milia repeatedly, we review your skincare, especially heavy eye creams and oils, and may recommend a topical retinoid to keep the skin turning over normally. Milia that keep forming in the same area, or many milia appearing in a short time, are worth a medical assessment, since they occasionally signal an underlying skin condition.

Cost

Milia removal is private pay and priced per visit according to the number, size and location of the milia. The fee is confirmed at your consultation, and we provide receipts for health spending accounts.

Booking

Call 416.792.0159 or email info@sagedermatology.ca. No referral is needed for milia removal. Sage Dermatology is at 591 Yonge Street, Units 202 and 203, steps from Wellesley subway station, with underground parking on Gloucester Street. Plan your visit.