A milium cyst is small white bump that typically appears on the nose and cheeks these cysts are often found in groups and in these cases are called milia the cysts occur when keratin becomes trapped beneath the surface of the skin keratin is a strong protein that is typically found in skin tissues hair and nail cells milia can occur in people of all ages but theyre most common in newborns theyre typically found on the face eyelids and cheeks milia are often confused with a condi