Our highly experienced Consultant Dermatologists provide expert advice for your baby’s milia, with gentle, effective ways of looking after their sensitive skin.
If you’ve noticed small white or yellow spots on your baby’s face, or on their scalp or chest, it could be a common skin condition called milia. Also known as milk spots, milia are harmless and often disappear by themselves in a few weeks, without the need for any treatment.
Milia are essentially non-contagious clusters of tiny white or yellow cysts – depending on your baby’s skin colour – and don’t usually cause any itching or inflammation.
They typically appear a couple of days after birth, or a bit later if your baby is premature. They’re extremely common and affect around half of all newborns, mostly around their upper cheeks, forehead, nose and chin. They can also show up on other parts of their body, such as inside their mouth, on their head, or chest.
Your baby’s body will be adapting to the world outside in the first few weeks of life. During this period, they may still be unable to shed their dead skin cells; new skin then forms on top, trapping the dead cells underneath. The dead skin then hardens and turns into tiny cysts.
Milia don’t need any treatment as they are harmless and don’t cause your baby any discomfort. However, if you are concerned, or if the spots have been there for a few weeks, our dermatology specialists can carry out a simple examination and advise you on how best to look after your baby’s skin.
They can also rule out any other skin condition, such as baby acne or infantile acne, or eczema.
Milia can often be mistaken for baby acne, which is also a common skin condition that affects newborns. It usually appears as small red or white spots and bumps on your baby’s cheeks, forehead and skin and is due to hormonal changes.
Like milia, baby acne usually clears by itself with no need for treatment. However, it can develop into a more persistent form known as infantile acne, with symptoms such as whiteheads, blackheads, or small pimples.
If the spots and blemishes on your baby’s skin don't go away after a few weeks, our paediatric dermatology specialists can examine your baby and advise on whether any treatment is needed.
Milia are harmless and you don’t need to do anything in particular to help them clear up. They will probably last a few weeks, but can last up to around two months.
In the meantime there are a few things you can do at home to keep your baby’s skin clean and comfortable. These include:
It’s completely understandable to feel concerned if your baby develops spots and blemishes, whether it’s milia or another condition. Our dedicated team of paediatricians and Consultant Dermatologists are experts in childhood skin problems. They can provide a thorough assessment of your child’s skin and accurately identify the exact nature of the issue.
On examination, we may find that your baby has a different skin condition, such as infantile acne or eczema. If this is the case we can also advise on any necessary treatment.
If you find that the milia don’t disappear on their own after a few months, it’s always a good idea to seek advice from a milia specialist.
We’re here to offer our care and expertise, with appointments often available at short notice. If you are concerned about milia or any other aspect of your baby’s skin and would like to see a paediatrician or a Consultant Dermatologist, please telephone 020 7244 4200 or make an appointment online.
