Milia in Babies: Tiny White Bumps Explained | Parenting Hub
Milia are harmless pinhead-sized white bumps on a newborn's nose, cheeks or chin. They clear on their own — here's how to tell them from other rashes.
Tiny pearly bumps across your newborn's nose? That's milia — completely normal, harmless and gone within a few weeks.
What milia are
Milia are pinhead-sized white or pearly bumps caused by tiny flakes of keratin trapped just under the skin. Up to half of newborns have them, usually on the nose, cheeks, chin or forehead. They aren't a rash, aren't itchy and don't bother baby at all.
Symptoms
Small (1–2 mm), firm, pearly-white bumps. Skin around them looks completely normal. They don't fill with pus or change colour.
Causes
Immature sweat and oil glands trap dead skin cells close to the surface. As baby's skin matures, the bumps work their way out on their own.
What helps
Nothing — and that's the point. Milia clear themselves in days to weeks.
- Wash baby's face once a day with plain warm water.
- Don't squeeze, pick or apply creams.
- Skip exfoliants and 'spot' treatments — adult skincare isn't safe on newborns.
When to see a doctor
Milia don't normally need a GP visit. Book one if the bumps are red, hot, painful, full of pus or spreading — that's not milia.
When to seek help
- Bumps become red, swollen or pus-filled
- Spreading rash with fever in a baby under 3 months
- Bumps still present after 3 months
Common questions
Are milia the same as baby acne?
No. Milia are white, firm and never red or pus-filled. Baby acne is red and pimple-like. Both clear on their own.
Can I pop milia?
Please don't — it can scar baby's skin and introduce infection. They come out by themselves.