Millet grains on the face: how to prevent and eliminate them

Millet grains are annoying white dots on the face, difficult to eliminate. Let’s find out what are the most effective remedies.

Millet grains are small white spots on the skin, formed by an accumulation of keratin , which appear on the face, in particular on the eye area and cheekbones. They appear as superficial cysts, with a solid consistency and a rounded shape. Their name is in fact due to the similarity with the seeds of the plant.

The main cause of these keratin build-up is the ‘obstruction of the pores, and contrary to what you might think commonly, there is no question of fat balls on the face, and therefore have nothing to do with points blacks and pimples, let alone with the hordes , which are another matter entirely.

Getting rid of the white points is not easy, because unlike the black points, the blackhead is closed and it is not enough to squeeze it to get it out. Let’s see how to eliminate millet grains and how to prevent their appearance.

Millet grains on eyes and skin: the causes

Millet grains can have several causes, first of all an incorrect beauty routine . A little deep cleansing, the lack of exfoliation and the use of comedogenic cosmetics can clog the pores, causing the accumulation of sebum and keratin.

The use of too aggressive detergents and exposure to UV rays can also worsen the situation and cause the appearance of blackheads. To prevent them, you must always wash your face morning and evening, using a mild cleanser. The skin, then, must be exfoliated regularly and hydrated with light, non-comedogenic creams. Even foundation and other make-up products must not be comedogenic.

But it does not end here: at the base of their appearance there are also phenomena of burns, grazes, scars, dermabrasions, and also an incomplete development of the sebaceous glands .

Millet grains and fat balls: are they the same?

Millet grains are often confused with balls of fat under the skin or sebaceous cysts (there are also other types), which are however another thing. In fact, they are formed following the occlusion of a sebaceous gland , which is no longer able to dispose of the sebum leading to these accumulations of subcutaneous fat. These are benign formations in all cases.

Millet grains: how to remove them

Eliminating a grain of millet or more is not easy, especially when they are located on the eye area, an area where the skin is very thin and delicate .

The first thing to do is to exfoliate the skin twice a week, using a ready-made or homemade scrub, with a spoonful of sugar and one of olive oil. Alternatively, we recommend using an ultrasonic brush , such as Clarisonic, to cleanse the pores every day to help cleanse the pores, helping to eliminate and prevent blackheads.

When the scrub is not enough, it is necessary to resort to exfoliating creams or chemical peels , based on glycolic acid, salicylic acid or retinoids. However, both treatments must be done under medical supervision. Only in the most difficult cases, the dermatologist can decide to remove millet grains manually, making small incisions.

If you want to know what not to do, absolutely do not try to burst them as if they were common pimples. Already when we are dealing with them we should avoid, but if we are faced with white spots the risk is precisely to increase and spread the infection , as well as to ruin and injure the skin.

In general, as we said, the best cure is prevention: taking care of our skin will help prevent these unwanted small white balls from forming.

Millet grains in infants

Even in children these white dots may occur, but the causes are different from those of adults. In this case, it is probable that a transient keratinization is due to the problem, due to hormonal changes .

In this case, therefore, there is no need to worry, since it is a totally reversible condition. White spots will tend to disappear on their own, so no treatment should be done.

Photo source: https://pixabay.com/it/photos/trattimento-viso-donna-occhio-pelle-609561/