Home remedies for treating a stye include applying warm compresses, keeping the area clean, and taking over-the-counter medication. In other cases, a doctor may prescribe drugs or recommend surgery.
A stye, also known as a hordeolum, is a painful, inflamed bump that develops on an eyelid or at the base of the eyelashes. It occurs due to a blockage of an oil gland of the eyelid. Bacteria then grows in the blockage, causing an infection. A stye can cause pain, redness, and swelling and may have the appearance of an acne pimple.
A stye will usually resolve on its own within a couple weeks. However, treatments are available to help speed up the process. Typically, this will involve using a warm compress to help the stye heal faster. In more severe cases, a person may require medical treatment.
The following home remedies may help ease the pain of a stye:
1. Warm compresses
To help speed up the healing process of a stye and reduce symptoms, a person can use a warm compress. Putting a warm, but not hot or scalding, compress on the eye and massaging the area can prompt the stye to open and drain.
To create a warm compress, a person can moisten a clean washcloth with warm water and gently place it over their eye. A person can apply the warm compress for 5 to 10 minutes, and repeat this process 3 to 6 times a day. However, it is important to change the washcloth frequently, especially once the stye begins to drain.
2. Eye hygiene
It is important to pay attention to
Following these tips can help prevent the infection from getting worse:
- Avoid sharing any eye care products, including eye drops and eye makeup.
- Do not try to pop or squeeze the stye.
- Avoid rubbing or touching the eyes, unless to apply medication or compresses.
- Wash the hands with soap and water before and after touching the eye to apply medication or compresses.
- Gently rinse the eye if dirt or dust gets under the eyelid.
- Avoid wearing contact lenses until the stye heals.
3. Pain medication
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication may also ease the pain of a stye.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen can reduce inflammation and might therefore help with burning and swelling.
4. OTC stye remedies
Many drugstores sell ointments, solutions, or medicated pads that may help relieve the pain of styes. These remedies will not heal the stye, but they may help ease the pain. Ensure that a person only applies these remedies with clean hands.
Very large styes and those that do not go away on their own may need medical treatment. A doctor may recommend one of the following options:
5. Antibiotics
An eye doctor may prescribe an antibiotic to further treat and prevent recurrences. Antibiotics can kill the bacteria that cause a stye to grow. This prevents the stye from spreading and eases the pain.
It is important to use the right antibiotic for the specific bacterium infecting the eye. As such, a person should not reuse old antibiotics. In most cases, a doctor will recommend antibiotics in the form of eye drops or eye cream.
In rare cases, a stye can cause a systemic infection that spreads to other areas of the body. People with weak immune systems are more vulnerable to such infections. When this type of infection occurs, a person may need oral or intravenous antibiotics.
6. Steroids
Steroids can help the body heal itself more quickly. A doctor may inject a steroid into the stye to promote healing and reduce pain.
Steroids in the form of topical creams and eye drops may also help, but a person should talk to a doctor before trying these remedies.
7. Surgery
When a stye does not go away or turns into a chalazion, a doctor may recommend surgery. A chalazion is similar in appearance to a stye and often develops from a stye. However, a stye usually occurs due to an infection in an eyelash root, while a chalazion typically develops farther back on the eyelid due to a clogged oil gland.
A simple procedure, which a person usually undergoes under local anesthetic,
An external stye develops when one of the hair follicles of the eyelashes becomes infected. Internal styes affect the underside of the eyelid.
The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus
Anyone can get a stye, because most people carry the type of staph that causes the infection.
Anything that causes these bacteria to spread to the eyes can increase the risk of developing a stye. Some potential risk factors include:
- having a weak immune system due to diabetes or another medical condition
- having blepharitis, a condition that causes skin irritation on the eyelid
- having a previous history of styes
- having high serum lipids
- having a skin condition such as rosacea
- sharing eye makeup with someone who has a stye
- using makeup or eye care products that irritate the eyes or block the hair follicles of the eyelids
Read on to learn more about eyelid bumps.
A stye is a painful bump or lump near the eye. However, it may take several days for the bump to grow large enough to be visible. Some people notice pain, burning, or irritation in the eye area before the bump appears.
Some other symptoms of a stye include:
- a red bump or lump that may resemble a pimple at either the base of the eyelashes or under the eyelid
- a sensation that something is in the eye
- sensitivity to light
- difficulty fully opening the eye, especially if it is very swollen
- oozing or irritation
A similar condition called a chalazion appears when the oil glands of the eyelid become clogged. Some chalazia are painless. These bumps can grow very large, and they sometimes appear after a stye heals.
Read on to learn more about the differences between a chalazion and a stye here.
A person should consult a doctor if:
- a stye does not get better with home treatment
- other signs of an infection, such as a fever, develop
- a baby or very young child has a stye
- a person with a stye has a recent history of eye injuries, such as being poked in the eye
- a person frequently gets styes or often experiences eyelid irritation
- a person with a stye has trouble seeing
- the eyelid swells shut
- there is blood oozing from the eyelid or the stye
Although most styes do not require medical treatment, a doctor can often prescribe antibiotics or pain relief medication to ease the symptoms and quickly clear the infection.
If symptoms interfere with daily life or become very painful, it is advisable to contact a doctor.
Some FAQs about styes may include:
Can you pop a stye?
No, it is not advisable for a person to pop a stye. Doing so can release bacteria and spread the infection to other parts of the eye. Instead, a person should try to manage the stye through warm compresses, pain medication, and OTC treatments. If the stye is large or does not improve, a doctor may prescribe medication or recommend surgery.
How do you know if stye is healing?
A stye will usually heal on its own within a few weeks. A person can monitor their healing progress by noting changes to the stye. For example, reduced swelling, reduced pain, and drainage of pus indicate that the stye is healing.
What happens if a stye is left untreated?
Without treatment, a stye can lead to possible complications. These can include the stye developing into a chalazion, the infection from the stye spreading to the entire eyelid surface, and cosmetic problems. Additionally, if a person does not maintain sufficient eyelid hygiene, it is likely a stye will reoccur.
Styes can be painful, but they are not usually dangerous. Home treatment is usually safe and effective. Typically, this will involve practicing good eye hygiene and using warm compresses.
For larger styes, surgical and antibiotic treatments may be necessary. Sometimes, a more serious condition may appear to be a stye. Therefore, if the symptoms do not improve or seem very severe, do not delay consulting a doctor.