'grit' under facial skin

[Mattk]

From time to time I get what can only be described as grit under the skin on my face. There are no visible marks but I can feel them. Using a needle I break the skin and am then able to tease them out.

Any ideas what they are? I removed 2 yesterday and they occur maybe only once a year but seem to get bigger until removed (approx 1mm diameter).

They don't bother me but I'm just curious as to what they are!

Thanks.

[ummmm]

What do they look like when you get them out?

[Sqad]

What an odd story.......be more exact about where they appear on the facial skin....e.g under the jaw.....over the angle of the jaw.

The only thing that comes to mind is stones in the salivary ducts.

[Hopkirk]

My wife once got some out of my forehead. Like little tiny specks of Calcium.

[Mattk]

The 2 yesterday were on my cheekbone but I have had them before under my eye.

They are similar to Hopkirks description. It was very satisfying watching them emerge!

[chelle7272]

I get some on occasion , like milk spots.

[Sqad]

OK.....Google "Milia" and see if that fits the bill.

[Kiki-frog]

My aunt used to have a condition called calcinosis, which gave her chalky lumps under her skin, but they were quite large. Maybe google calcinosis and see if that fits?

[ludwig]

It sounds like calcified sebum.

[Mattk]

Thanks all.

All suggestions appear to have some relevance but googling 'calcified sebum' brought the best matches. within that page milia is also mentioned.

There are a number of suggestions why it happens but none really match my situation. They happen rarely for me though so I'm not worried.

Did I mention how satisfying it is drawing them out?!

[Mosaic]

matt! dirty boy!

[LoftyLottie]

Milia, I get rid of them with a sterilised needle, but come to think of it haven't had any for ages.

[LoftyLottie]

But come to think of it my milia were visible and very small, like hard whiteheads, and what came out was quite solid.

[boxtops]

Yes I do, little calcium spots, not often but sometimes.

[Mattk]

Turns out loads of us have 'em!

Mine are as Lottie describes but aren't visible which is why I never mistook them for acne.

[LoftyLottie]

They were visible to me when I looked hard, not to anyone else though, unless they were scrutinising me with a magnifying glass ;o)

[smurfchops]

I have them too but find them very difficult to get out with a needle, it just bleeds .. what's the trick?

[snags]

I feel like I'm missing out here... where can I get some?

[Eve]

I have a couple too, I just left them alone when I realised they weren't spots, can they be got rid of safely then?

I have one on my cheek though it's handily hidden by my glasses most of the time.

I sometimes get lots of tiny little ones under my eyes but I think they show up more as I tend to get puffy undereyes with dark shadows so more visible.

[LoftyLottie]

http://www.ehow.co.uk...ilia-around-eyes.html

Snags, you can get them off Ebay!!

[Mattk]

My trick is using a needle I break the skin over them and then gently pick at the hole and try and squeeze the 'grit'. Once the hole is large enough it comes away easy enough. There will be a small amount of blood and obviously a mark for a few days but they will be gone.

The one I had under my eye was there for years and was quite noticeable. I had accepted it would be permanent but one day by accident I caught it underneath and broke the skin and away it came never to return!