Concerns · Growths & Lesions · CityLink Mall
Milia Removal in Singapore
Milia are tiny, hard white keratin cysts that sit just under the skin and do not squeeze out like whiteheads. SkinRev has no non-invasive option for them, so Dr Sin Yong assesses and removes milia at IN Eternity Clinic.
Written & medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · 8 October 2026
Quick answer
- Milia are tiny, hard white keratin cysts that sit just under the skin and do not squeeze out like whiteheads. SkinRev has no non-invasive option for them, so Dr Sin Yong assesses and removes milia at IN Eternity Clinic.
- Medical, performed by Dr Sin Yong at IN Eternity Clinic (Pacific Plaza, Orchard): De-roofing and extraction by Dr Sin Yong, Radiofrequency/electrosurgical removal, Cryotherapy, Laser removal, Prescription treatment.
- Assessment first; individual results vary. Medical pricing is given at consultation.
Milia are pearly-white or cream bumps, usually 1–2 mm, that feel firm, like a grain of sand under the skin. Each one is a tiny cyst filled with keratin, the protein that forms the skin's surface, trapped just beneath the epidermis. They cluster around the eyes, on the eyelids, cheeks, nose and forehead. Unlike a whitehead, a milium has no opening to the surface, which is why pressing does nothing except bruise the skin. That frustration is usually what brings people to search for milia removal in Singapore.
Most milia in adults appear without an obvious cause. Others follow skin injury or healing: after burns, blistering, resurfacing procedures, or long-term use of heavy creams around the eyes. Rarer forms include milia en plaque, where many milia sit on an inflamed patch, and eruptive milia that appear in crops. Some lookalikes, such as syringomas, xanthelasma, small cysts or an early basal cell carcinoma, need a different approach, so a doctor should confirm what the bumps are. In newborn babies, milia are very common and usually clear within weeks without any treatment.
SkinRev Lab does not remove milia. A HydraFacial or any facial extraction cannot clear them, because there is no pore opening to empty, and repeated squeezing near the eyes can leave marks. If you message SkinRev about milia, we route you to IN Eternity Clinic, where Dr Sin Yong examines the bumps and, if they are milia, removes them with a fine sterile technique.
“A milium has no opening, so a facial cannot extract it: it has to be opened with a sterile instrument by a doctor.”
— Dr Sin Yong, IN Eternity Clinic
- What it is
- A small keratin-filled cyst arising from a fine (vellus) hair follicle or sweat duct
- Typical size
- About 1–2 mm
- Depth
- Just beneath the epidermis, with no opening to the surface
- Common sites
- Eyelids, under the eyes, cheeks, nose, forehead
- Types
- Primary, secondary (after injury or blistering), milia en plaque, eruptive
- Removed by
- Dr Sin Yong, IN Eternity Clinic
What goes where
The honest ladder:
non-invasive first, medical when it is needed
At SkinRev Lab · non-invasive
There is no non-invasive treatment at SkinRev Lab that changes this concern. We will say so at the first visit and pass your enquiry to IN Eternity Clinic.
At IN Eternity Clinic · Dr Sin Yong
De-roofing and extraction by Dr Sin Yong — A sterile fine needle or blade makes a tiny nick in the skin over each milium, and the keratin core is gently lifted or pressed out. This is the usual method for a few milia, including those near the eyes. Most people feel only a brief prick, and numbing cream can be used on sensitive areas.
Radiofrequency/electrosurgical removal — A fine radiofrequency or electrocautery tip opens and dries out each milium with precise control. It can be useful for many small milia in one visit, with a small risk of temporary redness or pigment change.
Cryotherapy — A light touch of liquid nitrogen can treat milia away from the eyelids. It is used less often on the face because of the risk of pale patches on Asian skin.
Laser removal — An ablative laser can open and clear milia, and is sometimes used when they are very numerous or form a plaque. It is kept for extensive cases after assessment.
Prescription treatment — For widespread milia or milia en plaque, a doctor may suggest a prescription skin treatment that encourages skin turnover, sometimes alongside extraction. This is planned only after the diagnosis is confirmed.
Enquiries to SkinRev Lab about medical treatments are passed to IN Eternity Clinic, where Dr Sin Yong performs them.
There is no non-invasive route for milia at SkinRev, and milia do not need treatment unless they bother you; some clear by themselves over months. If they persist, cluster around the eyes, or you are unsure whether they are milia, see a doctor rather than squeezing them. See a doctor sooner if bumps appear in crops, sit on a red or itchy patch, follow blistering, or if a single 'milium' is enlarging, shiny or bleeding, as that needs a closer look. Dr Sin Yong assesses and removes milia at IN Eternity Clinic, and SkinRev can pass on your enquiry. Children with a few milia rarely need anything done.
Where this happens
Assessment and non-invasive care — SkinRev Lab, CityLink Mall #B1-28, 1 Raffles Link, Singapore 039393. Underground from City Hall MRT and Esplanade MRT; a short walk from Raffles Place, Marina Bay, Suntec and Bugis. Open daily 11am–8pm.
Medical treatment — IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210, beside Orchard MRT (three stops from City Hall on the North-South line). Mon–Sat 11am–8pm, closed Sunday. Treatments are performed by Dr Sin Yong. WhatsApp +65 8815 3008.
What the research says
The evidence,
with sources
A review and classification of milia in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology describes them as common at all ages and separates primary milia, which arise on their own, from secondary milia that follow blistering, injury, medication or other skin disease, alongside rarer forms such as milia en plaque and milia linked with genetic conditions. This matters because secondary or unusual milia can point to an underlying skin problem that needs its own care.
DermNet, the dermatologist-written reference, notes that milia often clear within a few months and need no treatment unless they cause concern. Where removal is wanted, it describes de-roofing with a sterile needle or blade and expressing the contents, destruction by diathermy and curettage or by freezing, and, for very extensive milia, peels, dermabrasion or laser. It also stresses telling milia apart from syringomas, comedones and xanthelasma before treating.
References
Common questions
Your questions,
answered
How is milia removal in Singapore done?
After confirming the bumps are milia, a doctor makes a tiny opening over each one with a sterile needle or blade and lifts out the keratin core. Many milia can be cleared in one visit. For numerous milia, a fine radiofrequency tip or laser may be used instead. At IN Eternity Clinic, Dr Sin Yong performs milia removal; SkinRev does not.
What is the cost of milia removal in Singapore?
Pricing is given at consultation at IN Eternity Clinic, once Dr Sin Yong has seen how many milia there are, where they sit and which method suits them. Milia around the eyes, or in large numbers, may take longer to treat. SkinRev does not perform milia removal, so there is no SkinRev price for it.
Why can't I just squeeze milia like whiteheads?
A whitehead is a blocked pore with an opening, so its contents can come out. A milium is a sealed cyst under a thin layer of skin, with no exit. Squeezing only bruises the skin and can leave a red or dark mark, particularly on the delicate eyelid area. Opening it properly needs a sterile instrument and a steady hand.
Is there downtime after milia removal?
Usually very little. Each treated spot may look like a tiny red dot or pinprick scab for a few days, and most people return to work straight away. Keep the area clean, avoid rubbing or picking, and use sun protection, as freshly treated skin can darken in strong sun. Individual healing varies.
Will milia come back?
A milium that has been fully emptied does not usually return in the same spot, but new ones can form, especially if you are prone to them. Avoiding very rich creams around the eyes, protecting the skin from sun damage and treating any underlying skin condition may reduce new milia. Some people simply need occasional removal over the years.
Are the white bumps under my eyes milia or syringomas?
They can look alike. Milia are white, hard and pearly, like tiny grains, and contain a core that can be lifted out. Syringomas are skin-coloured or yellowish, flatter and firm, often in symmetrical clusters on the lower lids, and have no core to extract. A doctor can usually tell them apart on close examination, which matters because the treatments are different.