Milia

Milia are small, 1-2mm pearly white sub epidermal keratin filled cysts on the skin. They are most commonly found on the skin around the cheeks, nose, eyes, eyelids, forehead and chest. Milia are very common in newborn babies but can affect people of any age. 

What are the types of Milia and what causes them?

There are several different types of Milia. They occur when the skins ability to naturally shed and exfoliate is impaired. 

• Neonatal Milia. These are Milia that are seen in young babies soon after they are born. They are very common and are usually found around the nose area but may also occur on the scalp, cheeks, upper body and inside the mouth. They are thought to arise from sweat glands that aren't fully developed or mature. Around half of all babies develop Neonatal Milia. In fact, because they are so common, they are actually considered as normal in newborn babies.
• Primary Milia. These are Milia that can occur in both children and adults.
• Secondary Milia. These are Milia that develop in an area of skin, anywhere on the body, that has previously been damaged or injured. For example, after a burn or a blistering rash. The Milia develop as the skin heals and it is thought that damage to the sweat glands may be an underlying cause. Secondary Milia also sometimes develop after certain skin creams have been used - for example, corticosteroid skin creams.
• Milia en plaque. Milia of this type are extremely rare. The Milia develop on an inflamed, raised patch of skin known as a plaque which may be several centimetres across. The cause for Milia en plaque is not fully understood. It usually occurs behind the ears, on an eyelid, or on the cheeks or jaw area. This type of Milia tends to particularly affect middle-aged women.
• Multiple eruptive milia. The Milia appear in crops, or patches of Milia that develop over a period of weeks or months. The crops usually appear on the face, the upper arms and the upper trunk. Milia of this type are also extremely rare.

Treatment for Milia

Milia are harmless. In babies, they clear up after a few weeks however, in some adults, Milia can persist for months or sometimes longer. Secondary Milia are sometimes permanent. Because they normally clear by themselves, Milia do not usually need any treatment. Some people find milia unsightly and so opt for treatment. Milia may be removed using a fine needle and then squeezing, or pricking, out the contents. No anaesthetic is needed. It is not recommended to squeeze or try to treat Milia yourself. This can lead to skin damage and scarring or infection.

If Milia become very widespread and persistent, various other treatments may be suggested, usually by a skin specialist. They include:

• Cryotherapy: a type of treatment that freezes skin lesions. Where a patch of skin has changed in appearance, it is known as a skin lesion.
• Laser treatment.
• Dermabrasion: a procedure that removes the topmost layers of the affected skin.
• Chemical peeling: a treatment where a chemical is applied to the face to burn off skin lesions.
• Advanced Electrolysis: a treatment that pierces the Milia with a needle & uses an electric current to break up the Milia. 

In the rare type of milia called milia en plaque, certain creams such as isotretinoin or tretinoin are sometimes suggested as treatment, or the antibiotic tablet, minocycline.

Contact the Claudia McGloin Clinic on 0719140728 for more information. 

What is Keratosis Pilaris?

Keratosis pilaris is a common condition where the skin is rough and bumpy. It looks as if the skin is covered in permanent goose pimples.

Keratosis pilaris most commonly affects the back of the upper arms, and sometimes the buttocks and the front of the thighs. Less often, the forearms and upper back may be affected.

How it affects the skin

The patches of affected skin will be covered in tiny spiky bumps, which may be white, red or skin-coloured. This spotting looks like "chicken skin" and the skin feels rough, like sandpaper.

In some people, the skin itches and there may be inflammation and pinkness around the bumps. The skin tends to improve in summer and get worse during winter months or dry conditions.

Who's affected

Keratosis pilaris is very common, affecting up to one in three people. It can affect people of all ages but typically starts during childhood, although it can sometimes occur in babies, and gets worse in adolescence, around puberty. 

Keratosis pilaris sometimes improves after puberty, and may even disappear in adulthood, although many adults still have the condition in their 40s and 50s.

What causes keratosis pilaris?

Keratosis pilaris is hereditary and occurs when too much keratin builds up in the skin's hair follicles. Keratin is a protein found in the tough outer layer of skin, which causes the surface of the skin to thicken, hence the name "keratosis".

The excess keratin blocks the hair follicles with plugs of hard, rough skin. The tiny plugs widen the pores, giving the skin a spotty appearance. It's often associated with other dry skin conditions, such as eczema. 

Treating keratosis pilaris

There's little that can be done to treat keratosis pilaris, and it often gets better on its own without treatment. However, if it's bothering you, the following measures may help improve your rash:

• use cleansers rather than soap – ordinary soap may dry your skin out and make the condition worse
• moisturise your skin when it's dry – creams containing salicylic acid, lactic acid or urea are thought to be the most effective
• gently rub the skin with an exfoliating foam pad or pumice stone to exfoliate the rough skin – be careful not to scrub too hard and rub off layers of skin
• take lukewarm showers rather than hot baths
  

You can also seek advice from a medical Skin specialist about treatments available such as:

• creams containing retinol, which is derived from vitamin A
• chemical peels
• microdermabrasion 
  

For more information contact the Claudia McGloin Clinic on 0719140728. 

Keratosis Pilaris Skin Secrets

Skin Secrets monthly column is out in this weeks The Sligo Champion Newspaper 💜💜💜

The topic is Keratosis Pilaris which affects 1 in 3 people. 

For more information please contact the Claudia McGloin Clinic on 071 9140728. 

Facial Thread Veins

THREAD VEINS otherwise known as Spider Veins, Broken Veins, Venous Flares, Broken Capillaries or Surface Veins are extremely common. Telangiectasia, the medical term are red or purple in colour and are visible on the skins surface. They can appear in clusters or as individual veins and are usually about 1-2mm. They are also Genetic and effect both men and women. 

Facial Thread Veins are usually found around the nose but can spread up onto the cheeks. These are very different to the Thread Veins that are found on the legs. 

Although they are called Thread Veins they are Dilated Capillary Networks from your Arteries (Arteries take blood from the heart to the rest of the body and Veins return blood to the heart). The blood inside them is more oxygenated and therefore appear brighter red in colour.

Facial skin tends to be much more sensitive than the skin on the legs, and is also exposed to daily elements like sun and wind. Facial Thread Veins can also be triggered by extremes of temperatures and are often a consequence of Rosacea. 

Effective treatment for Facial Thread Veins can usually be achieved by using one of the following treatments:

• Advanced Electrolysis
• Intense Pulse Light (IPL)
• Laser

All of these treatments work by using heat to destroy the Blood Vessel. Injecting vessels on the face is NOT recommended! 

Thread Veins are generally harmless, but can, on rare occasions, be a symptom of other vascular issues. If you do happen to notice any thread veins, it's advisable to contact a medical professional with experience in skin conditions. 

For more details contact the Claudia McGloin Clinic on 0719140728 or visit the website www.claudiamcgloinclinic.com