Milia Removal
Safely and gently clearing stubborn, hardened "milk spots" from the face and delicate eye area. Based in Ranelagh Dublin 6, our specialised clinic offers precise extraction to restore smooth, flawless skin results.
What Are Milia (Milk Spots)?
Safe effective treatment, even on delicate areas.
Milia (often referred to as milk spots) are tiny white or milky-coloured keratin cysts that sit just beneath the surface of the skin. Usually around 1–2mm in size, they appear most often on the face—particularly around the delicate eye area and cheeks. These are actually trapped dead skin cells that have hardened under the skin's surface, appearing as tiny, stubborn white "pearls" that cannot be easily popped or squeezed at home without causing scarring.
A common cause of Milia is using a heavy face moisturiser, or simply applying a little too much product for your skin type. Comedogenic SPF 50 sunscreens are also a frequent culprit—many of our clients notice milia appearing on their faces after a sun holiday. If that sounds familiar, you're definitely not alone, and it is easily treated.
How Are Milia Removed?
Along with advanced removal of blood spots, professional milia extraction is one of the easiest, quickest, and most straightforward treatments I offer at the clinic. Most clients are genuinely surprised by how comfortable the procedure is.
Depending on the depth and location of the milk spots, I use two highly effective, specialised methods to safely clear the skin:
Method 1: Controlled Thermolysis (Advanced Electrolysis):
This method involves using a tiny, blunt probe—roughly the size of an eyelash—to deliver a gentle, controlled heat. The settings are kept exceptionally low for milia, and I carefully apply the tip to the spot for about a second. This gentle heat breaks down the hardened keratin pool, causing the milia to shrivel instantly. Your body then naturally clears the remaining dead tissue over the following few days.
Method 2: Sterile Needle Extraction:
The second option utilises a very fine, sterile sharp needle (no heat involved). I create a microscopic opening in the dead skin layer and gently ease the hardened milia pearl out, giving you instant, clear results right there on the treatment bed.
How Much Does Milia Removal Cost?
We don't believe in hidden fees or making you pay per individual spot. Because we can often clear multiple blemishes in a single booking, our pricing is based entirely on the length of clinical time required to clear your skin.
Consultation and Milia Removal: - €45 (15 mins)
Months of frustration. Minutes to fix.
What Results Can You Expect?
While the physical extraction of the milia pearl is immediate on the treatment bed, your skin will need a few days to fully reset.
Days 1–3: You will notice tiny, pinpoint red marks or minimal micro-scabs where the milia were cleared. This is a completely healthy, normal healing response.
Days 4–7: The tiny crusts will naturally flake away on their own. It is vital that you do not pick or scratch them during this week.
Week 2 and Beyond: The fresh new skin tissue completely smooths out, leaving your face and eye area beautifully flush, flat, and entirely bump-free.
Preparing for your Appointment & Aftercare
Pre-Treatment Pep
Arrive Bare-Skinned: Please ensure the treatment area is completely free of makeup, heavy eye creams, or facial oils on the day of your visit.
Skin Health: Ensure the skin around the eyes and cheeks is free from active sunburn, open irritation, or recent intense chemical peels.
Post-Treatment Aftercare
Minimal Downtime: A tiny micro-scab may form over the extraction point. This typically flakes away naturally within a couple of days.
Product Fasting: Keep the treated area clean and dry. Avoid applying heavy night creams, rich eye treatments, or oil-based cosmetics directly over the healing spots for 48 hours.
Let It Heal: Avoid scratching or picking at the area—simply let your skin do its wonderful natural healing thing.
Will My Milia Come Back After Extraction?
Once a specific milia pearl is professionally extracted and cleared at our Dublin clinic, that exact spot is permanently empty and cannot return. However, because milia are caused by natural cellular buildup or heavy topical products, your skin can certainly form new milk spots in different areas over time.
During your visit, we will review your current skincare routine and look at simple, effective tweaks—like swapping out heavy comedogenic eye creams or heavy sunscreens—to keep your fresh, clear results beautifully smooth for the long term.
Not Sure if it’s Milia?
“There's absolutely no need to worry if your milia are located close to your eyes or on your eyelids. This is an extremely safe, precise, and effective clinical treatment with no harsh lasers, chemical peels, freezing agents, or injections involved. It is gentle, meticulously controlled, and entirely suitable for even the most sensitive skin types. If you aren't sure what type of blemish you have, we will safely assess it together during your initial consultation." — Stella, Skin Specialist
Frequently Asked Milia removal Questions
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Because the settings on our specialised electrolysis machines are kept exceptionally low for Milia, the treatment is highly tolerable. Most clients describe the sensation as a quick, minor pinch or a brief warm flick that lasts only a fraction of a second per spot. For sterile needle extractions, it feels like a tiny, superficial scratch—most clients are genuinely surprised by how quick and comfortable it is.
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Unlike a standard whitehead or acne blemish, milia are completely encased in a hard pouch of keratin beneath a layer of dead skin. Because there is no natural pore opening, squeezing or picking at them will only damage the surrounding tissue, leading to intense inflammation, potential infection, and permanent scarring. Professional clinical clearance safely creates a microscopic opening to release the pearl without damaging your skin.
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The treatment itself is incredibly fast. Depending on how many milk spots you have and their location, the actual extraction process usually takes anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. We book your initial visit as a 30-minute session to ensure we have plenty of time for a thorough skin assessment, a full clear-out, and a complete review of your aftercare routine.
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Professional milia removal is an extremely safe, routine advanced cosmetic procedure. When treating the delicate eye or eyelid area, we use meticulous, steady-handed precision with zero risk to your eyes—there are no loose lasers, flying chemicals, or freezing involved. The only standard side effects are mild, temporary redness immediately after the session and the formation of tiny, pin-sized micro-crusts that flake away in a few days.
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While "milk spots" are incredibly common in newborn babies and young children, their skin undergoes rapid natural exfoliation, meaning infant milia usually clear up entirely on their own within a few weeks or months. Our advanced clinical extraction treatments are strictly tailored for adults and adolescents who have developed stubborn, persistent milia that cannot clear without professional assistance.