A stye is essentially a bacterial infection that form on the eyelid that appears quite suddenly and can disappear rapidly too. The bacteria that most frequently causes a stye is called Staphylococcus aureus or staph. It is a small, painful lump on the inside or outside of the eyelid.
Eye Styes are common with most people experiencing one or two of them at some stage in their life.
Styes are usually visible on the surface but can appear deeper inside the eyelid.
Types of stye
External stye
An external stye generally starts as a small spot that next to an eyelash. It turns into a red or pinkish color, painful swelling and usually lasts several days before it bursts and then heals. Most of the external styes are short-lived and self-limiting.
Internal stye
An internal stye (on the underside of the lid) also causes a red, painful swelling, but its location prevents the familiar whitehead from appearing on the eyelid. The internal stye may disappear completely once the infection is past, or it may generally leave a small fluid-filled cyst or nodule that can persist and may have to be opened and drained.
Styes are usually harmless and rarely affect your eyeball or your eyesight. They can occur at any age and tend to periodically recur.
Who Is Most Likely To Get An Eye Stye?
A stye can afflict everyone. However, few people are more at risk of getting a eye stye than others. If you wear contact lenses, do not maintain perfect hygiene around the eye area, or use old/contaminated eye makeup, you could develop a stye. Few of the skin conditions such as rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis, and also diabetes may trigger a general stye in the eye.
How To Prevent Eye Styes?
Use warm compresses as part of your regular eye cleansing routine to help prevent an infection of any kind.
If you have a tendency to get eye styes, cleanse your eyelids with a solution of lukewarm water and baby shampoo. This helps remove any excess oil around the eyelids.
A cotton bud that is dipped in baby shampoo solution can also be used to clean the eyelid when there is an existing stye as it helps unblock the oil ducts. It does sting though!
To help prevent the eye’s oil glands from getting blocked, you could take fish oil supplements. Generally omega-3 fatty acids present in fish oil can improve the functioning of the eye’s oil glands.
What Causes A Stye?
Here are some typical reasons that cause a stye
An eye stye pops up near the base of an eyelash if a bacterial infection occurs at the site. In medical terms, a stye is known as an external hordeolum.
Another reason for a stye to develop is if one of the minuscule oil glands lying inside or beneath the eyelid gets infected. Such a stye is called an internal hordeolum.
Blepharitis, an inflammation occurring at the borders of the eyelid, is also a cause for styes.
A stye becomes a chalazion, which is a large and hard bump, if the eye’s oil gland gets completely blocked. A chalazion can affect your eyesight.
Symptoms of a stye can include
A lump on the eyelid
Swelling of the eyelid
Pain
Redness
Tenderness
Crusting of the margins of the eyelids
Burning sensation
Droopiness of the eyelid
Itching of the eye
Blurry vision
Discharge of mucus from the eye
Light sensitivity
Tearing
Discomfort when blinking
The feeling that there is an object in the eye.
Here are the top home remedies for eye stye
Warm Compress
Applying a warm compress to the affected area of the eyelid is one of the best natural home remedies for a sty. The heat from the compress will increase circulation to the area and speed up the rupture and drainage of pus from the sty. It will also reduce few symptoms like pain and swelling.
Dip a clean white towel in hot water and wring out the excess water
Close your eyes and place the warm compress on the affected eyelid
Hold it there for 5-10 minutes at a time
Do this for three or four times daily, until the pus is released
Wipe away the pus using a clean towel
Re-apply the warm compress until the pus stops coming out.
Green Tea
Green tea has few natural anti-inflammatory compounds that generally help reduce pain and inflammation and diminish the sty. Also, it is rich in tannic acid that is effective in keeping infections at bay. It also contains a variety number of nutrients and also antioxidants that contribute to healing and relief.
Dip a green tea bag in warm water for a few minutes
Remove and squeeze out the excess water
Close your eyes and press the moist tea bag over the affected eyelid
Hold it in place for five minutes
Repeat this a few times daily until the sty is reduced in size and there is no pain
This natural home remedy can also be done with black tea bags.
Coriander Seeds
Coriander seeds are a traditional home treatment for styes due to their anti-inflammatory properties. These seeds generally help to reduce pain, redness and swelling, thereby making you feel much better within a few days.
Add one teaspoon of coriander seeds to one cup of water and bring it to a boil
Remove from heat and also allow the water to cool down
Strain and then use this water to wash the affected around eye area
Do this two or three times daily until you get relief.
Turmeric
The antibacterial and also anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric can help get rid of an eye stye quickly. It can reduce inflammation and also it can remove any infection-causing elements that may be contributing to the condition.
Add one tablespoon of turmeric to two cups of water and boil it until the solution is reduced to half. Cool and then strain it through a cheesecloth. Use this solution to wash the affected around the eye area two or three times daily for a few days.
You can also mix one teaspoon of turmeric powder in a cup of warm milk. Drink it daily before going to bed for a week for faster healing.
Baby Shampoo
For quick and easy recovery from a sty, it is essential to keep the affected area clean and free of dust and other irritants. You can do this by washing the affected eye with baby shampoo.
Add a few drops of mild baby shampoo to a cup of warm water. Mix it well so that the baby shampoo is diluted.
Soak a cotton ball in the solution.
Close your eyes and use the wet cotton ball to wash the eyelid along the base of your eyelashes.
Rinse the area with warm water.
Apply a clean, warm compress for five minutes.
Do this a few times a day and your sty should disappear within a few days.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is another popular treatment for sties due to its soothing, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It can help reduce redness, swelling and inflammation as well as speed up the healing process.
Cut open a leaf from an aloe vera plant and extract the gel from it.
Rub the gel over the infected eyelid.
Leave it on for 20 minutes, and then wash your eye area with lukewarm water.
Repeat this remedy a few times daily for five days.
Castor Oil
Castor oil has ricinoleic acid, which serves as an anti-inflammatory agent. So, for this reason castor oil helps reduce pain and inflammation so effectively.
Wash the affected eye area with baby shampoo and warm water.
Apply a warm compress over the affected eyelid for five minutes.
Use a cotton swab to apply castor oil on the raised bump on the eyelid.
Repeat twice daily for a few days.
Guava Leaves
Due to their natural healing power, guava leaves are considered a good home remedy for sties. The leaves also possess anti-inflammatory properties that help eliminate the redness and swelling of the affected eyelid.
Wash two or three guava leaves in hot water.
Soak a white thin cloth in hot water and wring out the excess water.
Put the guava leaves on the warm cloth and wrap it well.
Allow it to cool down, and then take out one leaf.
Apply it on the affected area and leave it on for about five minutes.
Repeat the same with the other leaves.
Do this twice daily for three to four days.
Potato
Potato is another commonly used natural home remedy for styes. Due to its astringent properties, potato helps contract the tissues and reduce skin irritations. Plus, potato helps decrease inflammation and pain.
Grate a medium-size potato.
Wrap the grated potato in a cheesecloth.
Place the cheese cloth on the affected area for five to 10 minutes.
Follow this remedy two or three times daily for four days.
Cloves
Cloves work as a pain reliever and skin irritation reliever and hence are considered an effective remedy for sties. Cloves can also help prevent the spread of eye infections due to its antibacterial qualities.
Soak five or six cloves in a glass of water for 10 minutes.
Strain the water.
Soak a cloth in this water and wring out all the excess water.
Hold the cloth on the affected eyelid for a few minutes.
Follow this remedy two or three times daily for a few days.
At the same time, you can take some precautions to prevent or stop the spread of eye infections and styes.
When you have a sty or other infection, keep your hands away from your eyes.
Wash your hands before and after touching your eyes.
Never squeeze or pop a stye as it may spread total the infection to the other eye.
Do not wear eye makeup when you have a sty.
Never share eye makeup or applicators.
Discontinue wearing contact lenses when you have a sty.
Never go to bed without removing your makeup.
Follow the above home remedies but if your sty isn’t responding to these natural treatments, consult an eye doctor.
