The 8 Best Stye Remedies

What is a stye?

A stye or sty (hordeolum) is a red bump, sort of like a pimple, that forms on the outside edge of the eyelid.

Your eyelids have lots of tiny oil glands, especially around the eyelashes. Dead skin, dirt, or oil buildup can clog or block these small holes. When a gland is blocked, bacteria can grow inside and cause a stye to develop.

Symptoms of a stye include:

• pain and swelling
• increased tear production
• a crust that forms around the eyelid
• soreness and itchiness

If your stye isn’t painful, it may be a chalazion. Treatments for chalazions and styes are similar, but a chalazion may take longer to heal.

Here are eight ways to speed up the healing process for styes.

1. Use a warm compress

A warm compress is the most effective way to treat a stye. The warmth helps dissolve the pus and oil so the stye can drain naturally.

Wet a clean washcloth with warm water. Make sure the water is not too hot. Wring the cloth so it’s damp but not dripping. Then gently place it over your eye for about 5 to 10 minutes. Do not squeeze or try to puncture the stye.

You can do this 3 to 4 times each day.

2. Clean your eyelid with mild soap and water

Choose a tear-free baby shampoo and mix it with a bit of warm water. Use it to gently wipe off your eyelids using a cotton swab or clean washcloth. You can do this every day until the stye is gone. Cleaning your eyelids also helps prevent future styes.

Another option is to use a saline solution. It can help promote drainage and break down bacterial membranes.

3. Use a warm tea bag

Instead of using a warm cloth compress, you can use a warm teabag. Black tea works best because it helps reduce swelling and has some antibacterial properties.

Boil water and drop the teabag in a mug of it as if you were making tea to drink. Let the tea steep for about one minute. Wait until the teabag cools enough to place over your eye, then keep it on your eye for about 5 to 10 minutes. Use a separate teabag for each eye.

4. Take over-the-counter painkillers

Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to ease pain. Follow the instructions on the package to make sure you’re taking the correct dosage. If the stye is causing serious pain and interferes with your day-to-day activity, visit your doctor.

5. Avoid using makeup and wearing contact lenses

Avoid using makeup if you have a stye. Makeup can irritate the eye even more and delay the healing process. You can also transfer bacteria to your makeup and tools and spread the infection to your other eye.

Wash your reusable brushes regularly. Throw out any eye products that are over three months old.

If you wear contact lenses, stick with glasses until your stye heals. Bacteria from the stye can get onto the contacts and spread the infection.

6. Use antibiotic ointments

You can buy over-the-counter stye ointments at your pharmacy. To use these ointments, pull the lid of the affected eye and apply about a quarter-inch of ointment inside the eyelid.

Avoid using topical steroids for your stye. They may cause side effects. Make sure that any product you use is made to be used in or on the eye. Also, there is little evidence that antibiotic eye drops work for external styes.

7. Massage the area to promote drainage

You can massage the area in combination with the lid wipes to promote drainage. Massage the area gently with clean hands. Once the stye drains, keep the area clean and avoid touching your eyes. Stop 

8. Get medical treatment from your doctor

Your doctor may also prescribe an antibiotic cream for infections. For inflammation, your doctor may give you a steroid shot to reduce swelling. Sometimes styes need to be professionally drained, especially if they are internal or affect your vision.

RemovalCan you pop a stye?

Do not pop, squeeze, or touch a stye. It might seem tempting, but squeezing will release pus and may spread the infection. See a doctor if the stye is on the inside of your eyelid. Your doctor may drain the stye in their office.

Q:

Are styes contagious for other people or babies?

Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

A:

Styes are not contagious, just as acne pimples are similarly not contagious. It is a phenomenon of local inflammation and irritation that can’t be spread to others through casual contact.
Sarah Taylor, MD

Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Prevention

How do you prevent styes?

Getting a stye also increases your risk for another one. Styes can form inside your eyelid as well.

To prevent styes

1. Wash your hands with soap and water before touching your eyes.
2. Clean the eyelids with a Q-tip dipped in warm water and mild soap or shampoo.
3. Remove eye makeup every night before sleeping.
4. Avoid sharing towels with someone who has a stye.

Outlook How long does a stye last?

Swelling for a stye lasts about three days. A stye will eventually break open and drain. The healing process can last about 7 to 10 days with simple home treatment. Styes are rarely a serious medical issue, but they can be pretty irritating.

See a doctor When to see a doctor

Contact your doctor if your stye:

• is internal
• gets bigger
• becomes more painful
• doesn’t clear up a few days after home treatment
• affects your vision