Q: What's the best way to get rid of milia seeds? I have them around my eyes.

A: Dr Patrina Wong, medical aesthetic director of LinC Aesthetic Clinic in Liat Tower, says milia seeds are formed when the skin does not slough off normally but remains trapped in pores. They are commonly found in people of all ages.

These little bumps are harmless and take two forms. Primary milia are small, fluid-filled cysts formed directly from sloughed-off skin and commonly found around the eye area in children and adults and around the nose in infants.

Primary milia are often blamed on the use of overly rich creams, says Dr Wong, but this may not be a complete diagnosis.

'There appears to be a genetic vulnerability to developing milia,' she notes.

Secondary milia look the same as primary milia but often develop after blistering skin disorders or injuries that disrupt and clog the glandular ducts leading to the skin surface.

Secondary milia can also develop on sun-damaged skin and can occur anywhere on the body. It is common to see milia on the faces of those who are routinely over-exposed to the sun, says Dr Wong.

The most sensible thing to do is to consult your doctor on whether you have primary or secondary milia.

If it is the latter, the underlying skin ailment resulting in milia usually has to be treated first.

Common ways of treating milia include the use of a topical retinoid cream such as tretinoin, tazarotene or adapalene; removal with a sterile lancet or scalpel followed by the use of a comedone extractor, a tool used to remove whiteheads and blackheads; a series of fruit acid peels or microdermabrasion procedures; and carbon dioxide laser treatment.

A doctor such as a general practitioner will be able to advise whether you should consult a dermatologist or aesthetic specialist for the appropriate course of treatment. Most importantly, do not try to remove them by squeezing them yourself, as it will very likely lead to scars.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.