RI& KOREAN MEDICAL CLINIC
Milia & Skin Tags
Milia
Milia are benign cysts that form when dead skin cells and sebum fail to shed normally and become trapped in the shallow layers of the skin. They appear as small, firm white papules 1–2 mm in size.
They cause little pain or inflammation, but rarely disappear on their own — and when several cluster together, the skin can look rough, so many patients wish to have them removed. Squeezing or picking at them can damage the skin and leave scars, so it is important to remove the contents precisely while minimizing damage to the skin.
Skin tags
Skin tags (soft fibromas) are benign, soft fibrous growths that develop where the skin folds or experiences repeated friction, appearing as small, soft protrusions on the neck, underarms, eyelids, groin, and similar areas.
They are not infectious, but they are linked to a combination of factors — skin friction, aging, and constitutional factors such as insulin resistance — and tend to increase in number over time. Removing them yourself can lead to bleeding, infection, and scarring, so it is important to have them removed with a precise method that minimizes skin damage.
Main Causes of Milia
Impaired shedding of
dead skin cellsTrapped sebum and waste
Reduced skin regeneration
Thin skin, such as
around the eyesEnvironment & lifestyle
Main Causes of Skin Tags
Friction & repeated irritation
Skin aging
Constitutional factors
Obesity & increased skin folds
Milia & Skin Tag Treatment Process
Cleansing
Lesion examination
Removal of milia & skin tags
Protective patch application
Finishing care
Milia & Skin Tags Q&A
Do milia and skin tags go away on their own?
Neither is likely to disappear naturally, and as long as the underlying skin environment persists, they can keep recurring. Because milia form as keratin trapped in a cyst-like structure, natural drainage rarely occurs; skin tags, too, can appear in new areas even after removal if friction, skin aging, and constitutional factors are not addressed. Precise removal combined with consistent care to improve the skin environment is important.
Can I squeeze or pull them off myself at home?
We do not recommend self-removal for either condition. Milia are independent cysts not connected to the sebaceous glands, so they cannot be squeezed out — forcing them only damages the surrounding tissue without releasing the contents. Skin tags contain tiny blood vessels, so picking or cutting them off can lead to bleeding, secondary infection, and scarring. Delicate areas such as around the eyes carry an even higher risk of damage, so it is essential to have them removed with a precise method that minimizes skin damage.
Are skin tags contagious?
Unlike warts caused by the HPV virus, skin tags (soft fibromas) are benign fibrous growths — not viral lesions — and cannot be passed to other people. However, they do tend to multiply on the same person, especially in areas of repeated friction, so care to reduce irritation is needed.
How do milia differ from acne and syringoma?
Milia are firm, white papules 1–2 mm in size that cause no pain when pressed and cannot be squeezed out. Acne is connected to the sebaceous glands and involves inflammation, whereas milia exist only as keratin cysts without inflammation. Syringomas look similar but are benign tumors arising from the sweat glands, located in deeper layers of the skin, and differ in removal method and difficulty. Since they are often hard to tell apart with the naked eye, an accurate diagnosis followed by the appropriate treatment is important.
Can milia right under the eye be removed too?
The skin around the eyes is thin, delicate, and vulnerable to irritation, but removal is possible with a precise approach. Because the area is so close to the eye, the procedure requires great precision, and thorough regeneration care and sun protection after treatment are important to help the skin recover without pigmentation.
How long should I keep the patch on after removal, and when can I wear makeup again?
Aftercare differs by removal method. For manual removal, applying a regeneration cream is sufficient, with no patch needed. For laser treatment, the treated area is relatively larger, so a patch is worn for at least 3 days to 1 week to protect the skin from external irritation and bacteria. We recommend gradually resuming makeup once the patch is removed and the scabs have fallen off naturally.
