Recent Examples on the WebTo be clear, milia aren't dangerous or harmful, but some people might choose to get rid of them. Amanda Chan, Teen Vogue, 8 Oct. 2017 The good doctor uses a needle or small scalpel to create an opening in each milium, followed by tweezers to squeeze each one out — but that's not always enough. Marci Robin, Good Housekeeping, 19 Oct. 2017 While milia do indeed look like whiteheads, that's where most of the comparisons come to a halt. Kaleigh Fasanella, Allure, 19 Oct. 2017 Those are caused by cell overgrowth from the sweat glands — and not milia, like originally expected. Amanda Chan, Teen Vogue, 8 Oct. 2017 In older children and adults, milia can clear within a few months. Meredith Cohn, baltimoresun.com, 4 May 2017 In older children and adults, milia are typically associated with skin damage, including blistering, burns, skin resurfacing procedures, long-term use of steroidal creams/ointments and long-term sun damage. Meredith Cohn, baltimoresun.com, 4 May 2017 See More
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Latin, millet — more at millet
First Known Use
1807, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
milium
noun
mil·i·um ˈmil-ē-əm
plural milia -ē-ə
: a small pearly firm noninflammatory elevation of the skin (as of the face) due to retention of keratin in an oil gland duct blocked by a thin layer of epithelium