Hi!
Sorry to hear that you are troubled by milia around your eye area! Milia are a common cause of lumps and bumps around the eye that I treat very often. They are small, benign, keratin filled cysts that originate from blocked sweat glands.
How effective is laser treatment for milia around the eyes?
In my experience, laser treatment for milia is very effective.
I use an ultrapulse CO2 laser that, due to the ultra-short pulses, delivers a mainly ablative effect with minimal collateral thermal damage. True milia would be removed immediately by the laser treatment, leaving a very tiny wound that heals without scarring in most cases.
Generally, milia (once treated with laser) do not recur very quickly but new milia may develop over time. Steps should taken to reduce the chance of new milia developing, such as avoiding trauma to the area (rubbing) sun protection, non-comedogenic products, regular exfoliation with chemical peels and retinoids.
It is important to differentiate milia from other causes of lumps and bumps around the eyes that may be more difficult to eliminate or tend to recur such as syringomata, xanthelesmata, sebaceous hyperplasia, warts, skin tags, etc. For example, syringomata are often mistaken for milia by patients. Depending on the actual diagnosis, the approach may be different. For example, insulated radiofrequency needles or high frequency radiofrequency, etc.
Do consult a doctor who can examine you in detail, discuss the pros and cons of laser treatment for milia and advise on the best course of action!
Hope this helps!
Warmest regards,
Dr Wan Chee Kwang
References
- Yates et al. Laser treatment of periocular skin conditions. Clinics in Dermatology, 33(2), 197–206.
- Pozo et al. Variants of milia successfully treated with CO2laser vaporization. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 12(4), 191–194.
