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7 Useful Home Remedies To Get Rid Of A Stye

Anyone can suffer from a Stye at any time. It is a bump that forms on the eyelids. There are various home remedies to get rid of a stye. Read the following array of the article to know about some of the best home remedies to get rid of a stye.

Know-About A Stye:

A stye or hordeolum is a red bump, forming on the outside edge of your eyelid. The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus causes most of the Styes. However, other bacteria, including several other types of staph, like Staphylococcus epidermis can also result in a Stye.(1) Anyone can suffer from a Stye since most people carry the type of staph causing the infection.

Our eyelids have many tiny oil glands, particularly around the eyelashes. Dirt, dead skin, or oil buildup can clog and block these small holes. When a gland gets blocked, bacteria can grow inside and can result in the development of a Stye.

If you have a Stye, you might experience symptoms like increased production of tear, pain, and swelling in eyelids, itchiness, and soreness of the eye, a crust that forms around your eyelids. You might also feel a sensation that something is in your eye, there might also be sensitivity to light and you might find it difficult to open your eyes completely.

7 Useful Home Remedies To Get Rid Of A Stye

7 Useful Home Remedies To Get Rid Of A Stye:

In general, a stye goes away on its own within 7 to 10 days. However, if the Stye is painful or severe, you need to visit your doctor and take the necessary treatments. But, in case you are looking for home remedies to get rid of a stye then read below.

  1. Clean Your Eyelid With A Mild Soap And Water

    One of the first and foremost home remedies to get rid of a stye is to maintain proper eye hygiene. Clean your eyelids with any mild soap and water. Do not use harsh, synthetic chemicals while cleaning your eyes. You must be very careful while choosing products for your eyes since the skin around the eyes is very thin.

    You can take tear-free baby shampoo and mix it with a little warm water. Use it with a clean washcloth or cotton swab for wiping off your eyelids gently. Do this regularly until the stye on your eye is gone. Keeping your eyelids clean also helps in preventing future styes.

    You can alternatively use a saline solution to clean your eyelids. This can help in promoting drainage and break down bacterial membranes.

  2. Use A Warm Tea Bag:

    You can use a warm teabag to get rid of a Stye. Black tea works great in this regard since it helps in reducing swelling and also has some antibacterial properties.

    Add boiled water to a bowl and then drop a tea bag in it. Let the tea steep for at least 1 minute. Wait until the tea bag cools down so that you can place it over your eye, then keep it on your eye for at least 10 minutes. Make sure that you are using separate tea bags for each eye. Use a black tea bag as a compress twice regularly for reducing swelling or any discomfort associated with a Stye.

  3. Make Use Of A Warm Compress:

    The most effective way to get rid of a Stye is a warm compress. The warmth helps in bringing the pus to the surface and dissolving the pus and oil so that the Stye can naturally be drained.

    Wet a clean washcloth with clean warm water. Wring the cloth so that it is damp but not dripping. Now, place the cloth gently over your eye for about 10 minutes. Do not squeeze or puncture the Stye. Do this, 3-4 times every day. However, a study has found no conclusive evidence that this technique helps to heal a Stye.(2)

  4. Avoid Wearing Makeup And Contact Lenses:

    If you have a Stye then you should avoid wearing makeup, since makeup can irritate your eye even more and might delay the process of healing. Moreover, bacteria can also get transferred to your makeup and other tools and spread the infection to the other eye.

    If you are wearing contact lenses, try using specs until your stye heals. This is because bacteria from the eye Stye can get into the contact lenses and spread the infection. Also, keep in mind to change to a new set of contact lenses when the Stye clears to prevent further infection.

  5. Massage The Area To Promote Drainage:

    One more home remedy to get rid of a stye is to massage the area to promote drainage. Massaging the affected area gently can help in drainage. Once the Stye drains, make sure you are keeping the area clean and also avoid touching the eyes. Do not massage if it hurts while doing so.

  6. Use Antibiotic Ointments:

    You can use an OTC antibiotic ointment to the affected area if you have a mild stye. However, it is always advisable to consult an eye doctor or dermatologist for treating a Stye that is extremely painful, that interfere with your vision, and that won’t go away with OTC treatments or any other home remedies.

    NOTE: Avoid using topical steroids for eye Stye.

  7. Take OTC Pain Medication:

    You can also take an OTC pain medication, like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Ibuprofen( Advil) for getting relief.

Ways To Prevent A Stye:

We must say that getting a stye on one eye might increase your risk for another one. The bacteria present in the pus can result in another Stye to form in your eye or the other eye.

  • Keep your hands clean with soap and water before touching the eyes.
  • Remove eye makeup every night before sleeping.
  • Clean your eyelids properly with warm water and gentle soap.
  • Do not share towels with anyone who has a Stye.

Conclusion:

Most of the Styes disappear on their own in 1-2 weeks.(3) Swelling caused due to a stye lasts for about 3 days. Eventually, the Stye breaks open and drain. However, the healing process can take up to 10 days. Though Styes are rarely serious, however, they can be quite irritating. So, you should consult your doctor if it gets bigger, gets more painful, affects your vision, or does not clear up in a few days.

References:

Also Read:

Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:November 2, 2021

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