If you’ve ever had a stye, you know how painful and uncomfortable they can be—but what are styes? And what causes them? In this article, we’ll discuss why they occur, how to treat them, and how to prevent styes from forming.

What Are Styes?

Styes are eye infections1 that appear as red, pimple-like bumps on the outer or inner edge of your eyelid. If you have symptoms like eyelid pain, eyelid swelling, or excessive tearing, a stye could be to blame.

There are two kinds of styes: external styes and internal styes. External styes are the most common, and they are usually caused by bacteria from a blocked eyelash follicle or oil gland.

Internal styes also begin in blocked oil glands, but within the actual tissue of your eyelid. As they grow larger, they can push on your eye—for this reason, internal styes are often more painful than external styes.

Some medical conditions can also make you more prone to developing styes, including:

  • Blepharitis2, a chronic inflammation condition along the edge of the eyelid
  • Rosacea3, a skin condition characterized by facial redness

How to Prevent Styes: Daily Habits for Healthy Eyes

What to Do as Soon as You Notice a Stye

If you suspect you may have a stye, there are a few things you can do right away to provide some relief. Remember—never try to pop or squeeze a stye, as it can spread the infection to the rest of your eyelid.

Wash Your Face

Clean your face with mild soap and water. If possible, try to use a soap without fragrance.

Warm Compress

Rest with a warm compress on your eye for 10 minutes, two to three times per day. You can also use a warm teabag to help soothe inflammation.

Medication Options

Take over-the-counter pain medication to help reduce pain and further inflammation.

Day-by-Day Stye Recovery Tips

Continue Warm Compresses

Using a compress once a day can help liquify the hardened material in the eye, drain the external stye, and unclog the drainage route for the pus and debris. Massaging the stye with a warm compress can also help break up the materials and debris in the stye and help with drainage. Be sure to use clean fingertips and massage in a circular motion.

Keep Your Eyes Clean

You can use a mild soap or gentle shampoo on a cotton swab to help remove drainage and crusting around the eye. A small amount of blood may be seen during drainage, which is normal. If there is a lot of blood, consult your doctor right away. Avoid wearing makeup and contact lenses when possible.

When to See a Doctor

Styes typically heal on their own without medical treatment. However, there are a few things to look out for that may require a doctor’s visit:

  • Stye doesn’t improve within a few days
  • Drainage of the stye contains a lot of blood
  • Rapid growth of the stye
  • Increased swelling of the eye or eyelid

How to Prevent Styes

The best way to prevent styes is to be more thoughtful about your eye cleanliness. Here are some tips for good eye hygiene:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water before touching your eyes.
  • Clean your eyelids periodically with a Q tip dipped in warm water and diluted baby shampoo.
  • Thoroughly disinfect your contact lenses before putting them in
  • Remove all eye makeup before bed
  • Avoid using old or expired cosmetics like mascara or eyeliner
  • Replace daily mascara every three months, and occasionally-used mascara every six months
  • Replace liquid eyeliner every three months
  • Replace solid eye pencil every two to three years

If you struggle with styes, Vistar Eye Center is here to help. Schedule an appointment at one of our convenient locations across Southwest Virginia, and we can help you treat your styes and prevent them in the future.