I've been seeing a resurgence of milia and syringomas lately both in my practice and on the subway. It seems to go in waves with customers. Milia are the hard pearls on top of the skin usually located around the eyes and cheeks. Milia can be a combination or a collection of trapped oil, debris or bacteria that gets trapped on top of the pore versus inside of the pore making it very difficult to squeeze out. In fact, the only way to really get rid of Milia is professionally with a needle or by using a glycolic-based product and waiting a few weeks for it to naturally shed off. Attack it on your own and you risk scarring.
The other day I saw "Almost Famous" actress Zoey Deschanel's bumpy eyes online on the Daily Mail, which reminded me I needed to do a Tues Tip about these bumps.
Syringomas look similar to milia only perhaps a little flatter. Syringomas are supposed to be benign tumors or what I refer to as cholesterol bumps that form in the sweat glands. I observe them more in people who tend to eat high fat foods like duck or too much coconut oil. Yes, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Duck fat and coconuts have Linoleic acid and when consumed too much can increase cholesterol. Perhaps the culprit to the bumps? Let's put it this way- when people cut out the duck or chill a little bit on the coconut oil they usually see a decrease or elimination of these bumps. I spoke with another doctor and she said she prescribes 450mg of Lysine to her patients. She said it clears the bumps up in a matter of days to weeks. I would speak with a doctor about that first. Lysine accumulations can be toxic.
So while Zoey's bumps may be embarrassing for her I actually feel worse for her clumpy lash clusters in this shot. They definitely need some Lash Cult(TM) 911!!
