Newborn milia clear and do not tend to come back in early childhood. Milia can occur again in older children, teenagers, and adults, sometimes after skin trauma or sun damage, but this is a separate occurrence unrelated to what your newborn has now.

Newborn milia: the tiny white spots that clear on their own

Q: Should I squeeze the white spots on my newborn's face?

No. Please do not squeeze, pick, or press milia. The skin around them is delicate and squeezing can cause irritation or introduce infection. They will clear on their own without any intervention, usually within 2 to 3 months.

Q: Will milia clear without treatment?

Yes. Milia are not an infection and do not need to be treated. As your baby's oil glands mature, the trapped keratin works its way out naturally. Most milia disappear completely by the time your baby is 2 to 3 months old.

Q: Are milia painful for my baby?

No. Milia are not painful or itchy. They are simply small cysts sitting just under the surface of the skin. Your baby cannot feel them.

Q: What is the difference between milia and baby acne?

Milia appear at birth or in the first few days as tiny, smooth, white or yellowish bumps with no redness around them. Baby acne (neonatal acne) typically appears at 3 to 4 weeks of age, looks more like red pimples or pustules, and may have some surrounding redness. Milia sit perfectly flat against the skin; baby acne looks more like raised spots.

Q: Why does my newborn have tiny white bumps on their nose?

The bumps on your newborn's nose are almost certainly milia. They form because immature oil glands cannot yet shed keratin (a skin protein) to the surface efficiently, so it becomes trapped in small cysts just under the skin. Around half of all newborns have them. They are not caused by anything you did or did not do during pregnancy.

Q: When should I see a GP about my baby's milia?

You do not normally need to see a GP for milia. But do book an appointment if the spots have not cleared by the time your baby is 3 months old, if they are spreading or growing, if they look different from smooth white bumps (for example, if there is redness, crusting, or discharge), or if you are simply not sure what you are seeing.

0 to 3 months · Health · Updated July 2026 · All articles

You spend a lot of time gazing at your newborn's face, so it is only natural to notice those tiny white or yellowish bumps dotted across their nose, cheeks, and forehead. If you are wondering whether to call your GP or try to squeeze them out, the reassuring answer is: do neither. Those little spots are almost certainly milia, they are harmless, and they will disappear completely on their own.

What are milia?

Milia (singular: milium) are tiny cysts that form just under the surface of the skin. They are filled with keratin, which is a protein your skin naturally produces. In newborns, the oil glands are still immature and cannot yet move keratin up to the skin surface efficiently. Instead, small amounts become trapped in little pockets beneath the skin, showing up as smooth white or pale yellowish bumps about 1 to 2 mm across.

They are not spots, pimples, or infected pores. They have no redness around them and sit perfectly flat and smooth against the skin surface. You may notice them most on the nose, but they can also appear on the cheeks, forehead, chin, and even the eyelids.

How common are milia in newborns?

Very common. According to the AAP, milia affect around 40 to 50 percent of all newborns, which means roughly half of all babies are born with them or develop them in the first few days of life. They can be present at birth, or they may appear in the first week. They are not a sign of poor hygiene, a skin condition that needs treatment, or anything you could have prevented during pregnancy.

Milia are found equally across all skin tones, though they may be easier to see on lighter skin.

What do milia look like?

Milia look like tiny, perfectly round, smooth white or slightly yellowish bumps. They do not have a red or inflamed base. They are not raised in the way a pimple is; instead they sit just below the skin surface, almost like a tiny pearl caught under a very thin layer of skin. They do not weep, crust, or change in appearance day to day.

Common locations are:

Across the nose and cheeks (the most typical presentation)
On the forehead and chin
On the eyelids
Sometimes on the gums or the roof of the mouth (where they are called Epstein pearls and are equally harmless)

Milia versus baby acne: what is the difference?

These two common newborn skin conditions are often confused, but they look quite different and appear at different times.

Milia are present from birth or the first few days of life. They are smooth, white or yellowish, have no redness around them, and look like tiny pearls. They do not change from day to day and are not triggered by anything external.

Baby acne (also called neonatal acne) usually appears later, at around 3 to 4 weeks of age. It looks more like red pimples or pustules with some surrounding redness, similar in appearance to teenage acne. It may come and go, and can look worse after crying or when your baby is warm. Baby acne is also thought to be related to maternal hormones still circulating in your newborn's system. Like milia, it is harmless and clears without treatment, but the timeline and appearance are different.

If you are not sure which one you are looking at, your health visitor or GP can tell you at a routine appointment.

What not to do

It is very tempting to want to do something when you see spots on your baby's face. But with milia, the correct action is to leave them completely alone.

Do not squeeze or pick them. The skin around milia is delicate and easily irritated. Squeezing can cause redness, soreness, or even introduce bacteria that lead to a real infection.
Do not apply creams, oils, or lotions to them. There is no cream that will help milia clear faster, and some products can irritate newborn skin or block pores further.
Do not scrub the area. Gentle washing with plain warm water is fine for your baby's face; vigorous scrubbing is not.

The NHS advises simply washing your baby's face gently with plain warm water and patting dry. That is all the care that is needed.

When will milia clear?

Most newborn milia resolve completely by the time your baby is 2 to 3 months old, without any treatment at all. As the oil glands mature, they start working more efficiently, and the trapped keratin makes its way out naturally. You do not need to track each individual spot or worry if progress seems slow; they clear gradually and unevenly, which is normal.

If milia are still present after 3 months, it is worth mentioning to your GP at your next appointment, though this is rarely a sign of anything significant.

Can milia come back later?

The milia your newborn has now will clear and are not expected to recur in early childhood. However, milia are not exclusive to newborns. They can occur in older children, teenagers, and adults, often after skin trauma such as a burn, a rash, or prolonged sun damage. These later-life milia are a separate occurrence and are not related to what your baby has right now.

When to see a GP

You do not need to see a GP for standard newborn milia. However, do book an appointment if:

The spots have not cleared by the time your baby is 3 months old
They are spreading to new areas or the individual spots are growing larger
The skin around them looks red, swollen, or irritated
There is any discharge, crusting, or weeping from the spots
You are unsure whether what you are seeing is milia or something else

Your GP or health visitor will be happy to take a look. You do not need to wait until the spots have cleared or worry that you are wasting anyone's time.

Frequently asked questions

Should I squeeze the white spots on my newborn's face?

Please do not. Squeezing milia can irritate the delicate skin around them or introduce bacteria that cause a real infection. They will disappear on their own within 2 to 3 months without any help from you.

Will milia clear without treatment?

Yes. Milia are not an infection and do not need treatment. As your baby's oil glands mature, the trapped keratin finds its way to the surface naturally. Most milia are gone completely by 2 to 3 months.

Are milia painful for my baby?

No. Milia sit just under the surface of the skin as small cysts. They do not cause itching, pain, or any discomfort. Your baby cannot feel them.

What is the difference between milia and baby acne?

Milia appear at birth or in the first few days, are smooth white or yellowish bumps with no redness, and sit flat against the skin like tiny pearls. Baby acne appears at 3 to 4 weeks, looks like red pimples with some surrounding redness, and can come and go. Both are harmless and clear without treatment.

Why does my newborn have tiny white bumps on their nose?

Those bumps are almost certainly milia. They form when immature oil glands trap keratin just under the skin surface. About half of all newborns have them. They are not caused by anything you did or did not do during pregnancy.

Do milia come back?

Newborn milia clear and do not tend to return in early childhood. Milia can occur again in older children, teenagers, and adults after skin damage or trauma, but this is separate from the milia your baby has now.

When should I see a GP about my baby's milia?

You do not usually need to. But do see your GP if the spots have not cleared by 3 months, are spreading or growing, look red or irritated, or if you are simply not sure what you are looking at. Your GP and health visitor are always happy to take a look.

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