Tiny Bumps on Your Face: 5 Reasons Why You Might Have Them

Tiny bumps on your face are a normal part of real skin. On good days, maybe you can hardly see your pores, but often enough, your skin will have texture. It's okay. Here’s a nifty guide on how to tell those tiny bumps apart and how you can get rid of them.

Milia are unpoppable, flesh-toned tiny bumps on the face. Pimple poppers find them irresistible, but the truth is, you will be unable to squeeze any gunk out of them. They do not have sebum or grime like other skin bumps. Instead, they are dead skin cells that have accumulated under the skin.

Milia are harmless, but if the texture bothers you or interferes with makeup, you can go to your dermatologist and have them extracted. Using a product with hexyl-retinol can also help remove them over time.

Skin tags are another variety of tiny bumps that are impossible to pop. Skin tags are extra growths of skin you can find on the neck, underarms, and other areas that experience a lot of friction. While harmless, these bumps can grow to quite an inconvenient size, to the point that they start interfering with everyday life.

If this happens, do not attempt to remove them on your own. Skin tags are made of flesh and picking at them can cause bleeding, pain, and infection. Visit your doctor to have them cauterized, snipped, or frozen off.

Keratosis pilaris is more popularly known as chicken skin. It's due to a buildup of keratin, a protein that naturally occurs in the skin, hair, and nails. Excess keratin can plug the opening of the hair follicles, forming tiny bumps. These bumps can also develop on the face but are less common. A product with salicylic acid can help exfoliate the skin and smoothen it over time. Just be patient and consistent in applying it.

Blackheads and whiteheads are two of the most well-known skin bumps because, unfortunately, they are also quite common. Usually found on oily skin, they occur when excess sebum clogs the pores. They’re essentially the same, except in the case of blackheads, the oil is oxidized from being exposed to air.

Even if these two are poppable, do not attempt to squeeze anything out yourself to prevent infection, inflammation, and skin trauma. Leave this to the professionals or your skin will need a peklat remover. Use a product that fights pimples, combats excess oil, and gently exfoliates dead skin cells, like Eskinol Deep Cleanser Classic Glow Blackhead Prevent. This can serve as a second step in your cleansing routine after washing.

Milaria rubra, also known as prickly heat, are clusters of tiny bumps that occur when sweat is trapped under the skin. It’s more common in children with developing sweat glands. If you get them as an adult, you’re likely making more sweat than usual or have hyperhidrosis. In this case, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends wearing loose-fitting clothes, taking cold showers, and drinking lots of fluids to cope. Avoid perfumed products and contact with harsh chemicals while your skin heals.

Tiny bumps on your facemay leave your skin with unwanted texture, but they’re part of life! Resist the urge to pick at them to avoid infection and further inflammation. Talk to your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and course of treatment.