Noticing small white bumps on your skin? You’re not alone. These tiny bumps can appear for various reasons, including blocked pores or overactive sebaceous glands. While many of these bumps are harmless, they can impact your skin’s texture and appearance, leaving you wondering what to do. Understanding what’s behind these small white bumps on your face and skin is the first step toward effective treatment. In this guide, we’ll explore the common causes of small white bumps and the best ways to address them.
What Causes Small White Bumps on Skin?
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Milia
Milia are one of the most common reasons for small white bumps on your face (or your baby’s face). In fact, these small white cysts are so common that between 40% and 50% of newborns are born with them, but adults can develop milia too. These small white bumps on your skin are not a cause for concern and disappear on their own within a few weeks.
Milia appear when your dead skin cells and oil become trapped under your skin’s surface. Other causes or triggers of milia include skin damage from a rash or similar skin injury, long-term use of steroid medication, or your genes. If you’ve suddenly started developing small white cysts on your face, it could be because of using products that clog your pores or skin conditions like dandruff or eczema.
You don’t need to treat milia, as they will disappear on their own, but there are options to speed the healing process. At-home remedies for milia include over-the-counter gels, like adapalene gel, and over-the-counter exfoliators with salicylic acid, alpha-hydroxy acid, or retinoid. It’s tempting to pick at these small white bumps, but that can lead to scarring and infection. If at-home remedies don’t help clear milia or it becomes worse, consult your dermatologist.
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Clogged Pores
By clogged pores, we mean acne, specifically comedones. This type of acne is characterized by small white bumps on the skin that give it a rough or uneven appearance. Clogged pores are a non-inflamed type of acne, though they can develop into inflamed acne.
What are the causes of acne and clogged pores? You might be shocked to learn this type of acne is caused by oil trapped under the skin, much like milia. Hormones and inconsistent skin care are common causes of this build up of oil.
If you find that a consistent skin care regimen or products for acne-prone skin haven’t helped get rid of the small white bumps on your face, visit a dermatologist to discuss prescriptions and other skin care methods for clogged pores. Common treatments for acne include benzoyl peroxide, retinoids, and antibiotics.
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Sebaceous Hyperplasia
Sebaceous hyperplasia forms small white bumps on your skin when your sebaceous glands become enlarged. These bumps can technically be white, yellow, or skin-colored and either hard or soft. To tell these bumps apart from other small white bumps on your face or body, look for a depressed area in the middle. These types of bumps often occur in people over the age of 40.
Sebaceous hyperplasia is not harmful, but if you want to treat them because of how they look or feel, there are certain medications and procedures available to consider. Your dermatologist can determine the best course of treatment, but common treatment options include isotretinoin pills, trichloroacetic acid, cryotherapy, and excision.
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Seborrheic Keratosis
Seborrheic keratoses, a type of noncancerous skin growth, often start out as white or skin-colored bumps that eventually turn brown. They also start out as small bumps on the skin but can grow up to an inch in diameter. The way to tell these skin growths from others is that they are often waxy, scaly, and raised. Seborrheic keratoses typically occur in people who are 50 or older and are more likely to occur in people who have a family history of them.
While not medically necessary to treat, seborrheic keratoses can be removed due to discomfort or for cosmetic reasons. Five common treatments to remove these growths are cryosurgery, curettage, electrocautery, laser treatment, and hydrogen peroxide solution.
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Keratosis Pilaris
What is keratosis pilaris? Besides being one of the most common pediatric skin conditions, it’s a skin condition that can also affect adults. These small white bumps on the skin are caused by an excess of keratin, a protein used to protect the skin. The excess keratin plugs the hair follicles, making the skin feel rough like sandpaper. Keratosis pilaris can be itchy and irritating, but it is harmless.
Although many people choose to treat these small white bumps on their skin with over-the-counter treatments, a dermatologist can help reduce common symptoms like itchiness and dryness with treatment. Keratosis pilaris treatment often consists of an exfoliant like glycolic acid or salicylic acid and a moisturizer that includes lactic acid or urea.
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Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer and is often confused with other types of skin growths due to their slow growth. These small white bumps often look shiny and are round and raised. Other symptoms that set these growths apart from others are a pins-and-needles sensation, extreme sensitivity, itchiness, and numbness. Common areas for these growths to develop are areas often exposed to the sun, though basal cell carcinoma can develop on other areas of the body too.
Basal cell carcinoma removal options include surgical removal, freezing or light therapy, medication applied to the skin, or radiation. Your dermatologist will discuss each option with you and provide their recommendation on the most effective option based on the type of basal cell carcinoma you have, how deep into the skin it is, and where it’s located.
How to Treat Small White Bumps on Your Face and Skin
How you treat the small white bumps on your skin will be based on what’s causing them. Which means the first step toward a treatment plan is getting a diagnosis from your dermatologist. Your dermatologist will conduct a skin exam and any other tests they deem necessary for a diagnosis. You’ll also review the at-home remedies you’ve already tried with your dermatologist.
Once a diagnosis has been confirmed, your dermatologist will review preventive strategies, like a consistent skin care regimen, and other treatment strategies, like medications or procedures. Because of the many different causes of small white bumps on your face and skin, these options can range from topical creams to oral medications to excision, which is cutting the bumps from your skin.
Small white bumps on your skin can be frustrating, but the solution starts with a professional diagnosis. A consultation with your dermatologist can clarify the cause and provide you with effective solutions tailored to treat these small white bumps. From adjusting your skincare routine to exploring advanced treatments, there are options for every concern.
If you have small white bumps on your skin, schedule an appointment today with one of our highly trained, board-certified dermatologists to take the first step toward clearer, smoother skin. You can reach us at 412-429-2570 or visit our contact page to book your appointment in the greater Pittsburgh, PA area. You can also follow us on Facebook to see what’s new in the world of dermatology.