Kids
Milia in babies: What is it and how can you treat it?
Most of the time, your paediatrician will be able to diagnose if your baby has Milia just by looking at their skin.
If you thought bumpy skin was exclusively for teens, think again! Even babies can get skin blemishes.
A skin condition many tots develop is something called Milia, sometimes called milk spots. We chat with Sister Lilian, a leading pregnancy and parenting advisor, on this common skin condition in babies.
What is Milia?
Milia are tiny white bumps on a newborn’s nose, chin, or cheeks that look similar to acne. They can also appear on the baby’s arms and legs. The bumps are caused by dead skin flakes becoming trapped near the skin’s surface. It is often called “babasuur” in Afrikaans.
How is Milia treated?
Milia resolves of its own accord within a month or two, but try these tips to speed up healing:
- To prevent secondary infection, do not squeeze the pimples.
- Rinse the area with cooled baby organic rooibos tea.
- Apply a very light layer of homeopathic acne cream daily.
- If you are breastfeeding, reducing dairy, grain, and acid-forming foods (like coffee, pickles, and too much red meat) in your diet often helps.
