How To Get Rid of a Stye
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Medically reviewed by Johnstone M. Kim, MD
A stye is a small red bump on the edge of your eyelid. It is caused by a blockage of the oil glands surrounding the eyelid, which can be due to a bacterial infection. The redness may not be immediately visible on darker skin. The most common type of stye occurs on the upper or lower eyelid because of a clogged hair follicle. Styes are often painful and tender to the touch but are rarely a sign of anything more serious.
While there is no quick cure for a stye, it will most likely clear up on its own within one to two weeks. Good facial hygiene can help reduce irritation. Avoiding the use of contacts and eye makeup can help keep bacteria out of your eye and reduce the possibility of further complications. Applying a hot washcloth to the stye can help lessen pain.
Plan a visit to your healthcare provider if your stye is bothering you or if it lasts longer than two weeks. They will most likely prescribe an ointment or lance the stye. They may also refer you to an optometrist or ophthalmologist, medical doctors specializing in eye health.
At-Home Care
Most styes will clear up on their own. The most important thing to remember is not to pick or squeeze the stye. Picking at the stye spreads the bacteria around, potentially causing new styes. It also worsens the irritation, making the stye redder and more painful.
To help manage pain and reduce infection, apply a warm, wet washcloth to the eye for 10-15 minutes up to four times daily until the stye clears. Make sure the washcloth is clean so as not to aggravate the infection.
Follow these tips to speed your recovery and avoid irritating your stye:
Avoid wearing contact lenses or eye make-up such as mascara or eyeliner
Wash your hands and face thoroughly and frequently
Avoid touching the stye with your fingers, if possible
Always wash your hands before putting in or taking out contact lenses
Disinfect contact lenses in between uses or throw them out after each use
Remove eye make-up thoroughly every evening before bed
Use a gentle, ophthalmologist-recommended make-up remover
Throw away any eye make-up that’s more than three months old
Any eye make-up that you use on a stye can become “contaminated” with the bacteria that causes the stye in the first place. Using it again can cause another stye as well as spread a bacterial infection to the other eye. If you are unable to avoid the use of make-up on or around a stye, it is recommended that you throw away the used make-up once the stye has healed.
Related: The 14 Best Mascaras for Sensitive Eyes
Medication
A variety of medications, both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription, are available to help treat and manage styes.
Over-the-Counter
If your stye is painful, you can take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory painkiller such as Advil (ibuprofen) or Bayer (aspirin), as directed. The painkiller should help ease the irritation and redness. Do not give aspirin to children under age 16.
Prescription
If your stye doesn’t heal on its own after two weeks or if it reoccurs, make an appointment with your healthcare provider. You should also consider seeing an eye doctor such as an optometrist or ophthalmologist if you get styes frequently or if you have other reasons for concern. Proper medical intervention can prevent styes from becoming chronic.
Your healthcare provider will likely prescribe an erythromycin ointment, which is a topical antibiotic ointment used to kill the bacteria that causes styes and other infections. You will need to apply the cream to your stye for 7-10 days, as directed.
Your healthcare provider may request a follow-up visit within 2-3 days to see your progress and to determine whether your stye has healed properly.
If your stye hasn’t made any improvement and there is a concern for cellulitis (a bacterial infection that has spread to the inner layer of the skin), oral antibiotic treatment may be prescribed, but this is unlikely.
Surgeries and Procedures
In some cases, if the stye doesn’t go away on its own, your ophthalmologist or primary care doctor may decide to lance the stye. This is when the stye is pierced so the fluid inside it can be drained. This procedure is almost always done in-office as an outpatient procedure. You will be given a local anesthetic to numb the area and it will happen within a few minutes.
A stye should only be drained by a professional in a sterile environment. Do not attempt to drain or pick at your stye at home.
Living With Styes
Styes are rarely a sign of anything more serious. Taking ibuprofen and using a hot washcloth can help you manage any pain or discomfort. Your stye will likely pass in one to two weeks, especially if you practice good hygiene and avoid irritants.
Some people are more prone to developing styes than others, especially those with skin conditions or those who had styes in the past.
You are more likely to experience a stye if you’ve had one of the following conditions:
Rosacea: A skin inflammation causing reddened skin and rashes, typically on the nose and cheeks.
Seborrheic dermatitis: This is characterized by scaly rashes and flaky skin, usually on the scalp.
Dandruff: A common scalp condition where small bits of dry skin flake off, often accompanied by scalp itch.
Blepharitis: An inflammation of the eyelids caused by clogged pores.
High cholesterol: Too much of the bad type of cholesterol (LDL, or low-density lipids) can limit blood flow, increasing the risk of heart failure.
Diabetes: A group of diseases characterized by elevated blood sugar, or glucose, levels.
If you are prone to styes, be sure to wash your hands and take extra care before you do the following:
Put in or remove contact lenses
Apply make-up, especially eye make-up
Rub your eyes
Use eye drops
While it may be impossible to completely irradicate any risk, following these practices will greatly reduce your risk of styes reoccurring.
A Quick Review
A stye is a small red bump along your eyelid caused by bacteria in a clogged pore or hair follicle. A stye may be painful and tender to the touch, but it usually isn’t a sign of anything more serious.
A stye will most likely clear up on its own within one to two weeks. To help with pain and to reduce infection, apply a hot, clean washcloth to the stye for about 10 minutes four times a day and take OTC painkillers.
It is important to not pick at your stye and to practice good hygiene by frequently and thoroughly washing your hands and face. If possible, refrain from using contacts and eye make-up.
If your stye hasn’t cleared up on its own within two weeks, or if your stye has reoccurred, consider a trip to your primary care doctor. They can recommend an appropriate course of treatment.
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