You may never have heard of milia before, but you've almost certainly seen them. More commonly known by the somewhat misleading term 'milk spots', these small, pearly white bumps frequently appear on the noses of newborns.
Milia (the plural or milium) are a type of benign cyst that occurs in around 40-50% of newborns1. The cysts are caused by an accumulation of keratin—the main structural protein in skin, hair, nails etc.— within the hair follicles, which becomes trapped, forming a bump2. Milia can look similar to baby acne, but with milia there is no inflammation present. Although better known as milk spots, milia are not related to milk in any way, other than their colour, but while we know milk is not a factor, it's still a mystery why so many newborns get them.
While mostly seen on the nose, milia can also occur around the eyes or on other parts of the face, scalp, or upper body3.
