White, hard bumps just under surface

[Thumper]

I have had these removed during facials. They are these white bumps just under the surface of the skin and the estetician has to use her thumbs to push them to the surface to remove them. The older they get, the harder they become. I was told that I need a good facial scrub to keep the amount of them down and if I go back for a facial and there are still some present, it makes it easier for her to remove them. The product lines in the salon are about $60 and I'm not prepared to fork that out so if anyone has some suggestions for a cheaper line that works well, I would love to hear about it. I live in Canada by the way.
Thanks.

[BBGrrl]

they sound like milia. Milia is caused by a to rich of a cream, to much oil in your moisturizer or sunscreen. I would recommend figuring out what your using that is causing them because as you age the scars from the extractions will start to show.

I also recommend a corn meal paste for a physical scrub. Pour about a tsp in your hand and moisten. Scrub on lightly. And for a chemical exfoliation I would use lemon juice let it sit for a few minutes and rinse completely. I use it when I rinse my hair. I let it drain down my face and about 2 minutes later I rinse my hair and face.

[Peggy E.]

they sound like milia. Milia is caused by a to rich of a cream, to much oil in your moisturizer or sunscreen. I would recommend figuring out what your using that is causing them because as you age the scars from the extractions will start to show.

I also recommend a corn meal paste for a physical scrub. Pour about a tsp in your hand and moisten. Scrub on lightly. And for a chemical exfoliation I would use lemon juice let it sit for a few minutes and rinse completely. I use it when I rinse my hair. I let it drain down my face and about 2 minutes later I rinse my hair and face.

Sounds like you have it pegged, BBGrrl. I was wondering, too, if her skin would benefit from an at-home steam treatment? This would open those pores under which these nodules are trapped.

Would it be best if she was to do this before the scrub/exfoliation, or following?

And do be careful about scarring, as this is easy to do when the skin doesn't simply snap on back like it did yesterday morning. What happened?! :o(

:purplex:

[BBGrrl]

I would exfoliate than steam then mud mask.

[Simi]

I recommend a 20 minute aspirin mask twice a week. Dissolve the critters!

[eiyela]

Seconding the aspirin mask. I mix one or two aspirin with some honey. The honey makes it stick and keeps it from drying out. Plus I love honey masks on their own.:grinhappy:

I tend to leave mine on for more than 20 minutes, though... Last time I started playing WoW, I forgot it for 3 hours! No harm done, smooth as a baby's bottom the day after. Aspirin is da bomb!:whoohoo:

[gingergoddess]

Ah milia, I know them well.
Some people are more prone to mila than others. One thing I've read about them is that they are related to the amount of cholestorol on the skin's surface-- something that has to do with how the body processes it, not with how much you eat. Interestingly, I've also read that this is one thing that attracts mosquitos-- that cholestorol on the skin's surface. Since both milia and the little critters adore me, I need others to confirm or disprove my hypothesis annecdotally (my body happens to process cholestrol super effectively-- my levels run on the low side- no matter what I eat. Its a genetic thing). So it might not be something that can be prevented. But there are options for control.

Personally, I think home microdermabrasion helps me out a lot. For the actual tool I really like dermanew. The various cremes/scrubs do different things for different people at different price points.

I like Origins for care. I use their tonic and swear by it. I also like their perfect world serum. I find that its very light but its nourishing enough for me to skip moisurizer depending on environmental and skin conditions. Of course I also use suncreen, one of those oil free ones made for the face. And I use 5% benzoil peroxide as needed on certain areas, even 10% in spots like at the top of my chin (below my lips). St. Ives has a good (and cheap!) moisturizer and general exfoliator. Their mask is not one I would recommend, however.

[meliora]

I have them. Scrubs did not usually help; the only one that was more successful was Clinique exfoliating scrub, but it was also pretty harsh. Not to mention the price!

I found a solution for myself though: I bought a "facial buff", you can get them in any drug store or supermarket in the section with washcloths and loofas. And now I use a few drops of gentle cleanser or just water and scrub my face lightly, sometimes every other day, sometimes every 2 days. It's simple and works for me.

Good luck!