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A stye is an eye complication due to inflammation of the eyelid in addition to tiny cyst-like pus located either in the upper or lower eyelid. Although this could cause discomfort and an unpleasant appearance, a stye doesn’t usually cause harm or danger in the eye. As a matter of fact, several home treatments for stye have proven to be effective and safe to do.
What Is A Stye
A stye is a tiny lump that can be seen on eyelids, often close to the eyelashes. This usually appears all of a sudden and can be painful when touched. It can be distinguished into two categories, the external and internal stye.
An external stye is the most common type. This is often located on the outer part of the eyelid close to the oil gland. While the internal stye is more hurtful as this starts from the inside of the eyelid and works its way out while pushing the eye.
Signs and Symptoms
A stye looks more like a pimple that’s growing close to your eye, it could have a red or yellowish appearance along with other signs:
- swelling
- redness of the eye
- eye discharge
- vulnerability to bright lights
- uneasiness due to the pus touching the eye
- grainy sensation in the eye
- teary eyes
Causes of A Stye
The root cause of a stye is due to bacteria build-up in the facial skin. When these bacteria find its way to the eye, it sometimes gets caught up in the hair follicle, hence causing a bacterial infection. In addition to this, certain things in our daily regimen often contribute to its growth such as:
- Constant rubbing of the eye using an uncleaned hand.
- Eyelid inflammation.
- Using tainted eye makeup like contact lenses, dirty mascara, eyeshadow, eyeliner, and fake-lash glue.
- Neglecting skincare routine and sleeping with makeup on the face.
- Medical conditions also add up to the occurrence of stye e.g. diabetes
- Things that would cause you to rub your eye consecutively.
A stye could flare-up again after healing. Make sure to follow guidelines and procedures to prevent it from reappearing.
Home Treatment For Stye
It is imperative to not touch and pop the stye as the pus might get in contact with your pupils and cause serious eye problems. Eye doctors advise to just let it be as it will gradually get smaller during the eye laser treatment process.
A minor stye can heal itself in a week but in some cases, it lasts longer and would require medication. Here are a few things that you can do at home in addition to your treatment:
- Clean your eyelid
Since the cause of the inflammation is bacteria build-up, it would just be right to clean your eyelid with soap and water. Make sure not to use cleaning products that can cause irritation in the eye. Baby shampoo is mostly recommended by doctors because it has harmless chemicals and mild ingredients. Eyelid cleansers are also available now in stores, these products are specifically formulated to clean the eyelids. - Teabag
If you are an avid tea drinker, you can maximize your teabag by using it as a warm compress as well. According to studies, black teas can help in treating a stye effectively. Just simply put the teabag in hot water and wait for it to become warm. Place it on the stye for 15 minutes, you might as well want to drink the tea while you are waiting. - Warm compress
Compresses are well known for minimizing swelling body parts, that is why they are also effective in treating a stye. To use this home treatment, get a clean cloth, and wet it with warm water. Gently place it on top of your eye. Let it sit for about 15 minutes and repeat the process at least two to three times a day. - Over the counter pain relief
Pain medication can now be easily purchased in drugstores. Just let the pharmacist know your concerns and take the medication according to instructions. However, if you have drug allergies or a specific health condition, you might want to consult a doctor first. If it’s not showing signs of getting better, antibiotics might be prescribed to you.
Preventing Stye
Truly, prevention is better than cure. You can avoid getting a stye by following these simple tricks:
- Keep your contact lenses clean and store them properly.
- Do not use expired and contaminated eye makeup. Clean your makeup brushes frequently as well.
- Make it a habit to clean your face before and after going to bed. You don’t really need expensive products to do this, just a mild soap or facial cleanser with water will do.
- Avoid touching or scratching your eyes. If the itchiness gets unbearable, use an eyedrop or wipe your eye by using a clean cloth.
- Always wash your hands as face touching is a hard habit to break.