A stye is caused by an inflammation in the eye and is usually accompanied by pus. The infection is commonly caused by a bacteria called Staphylococcus.
In fact, according to research by Stat Pearls(1), 90-95% of cases of styes are caused by this bacteria.
A stye is a common condition and can be caused due to various reasons, but the infection is not generally a cause for concern. Left undisturbed, a stye can heal within 7-10 days on its own.
Symptoms and Causes of Stye
There are a number of causes of stye, such as not disinfecting contact lenses before wearing them, poor nutrition, and using expired eye makeup.
While a person will have stye in only one eye usually, it can also affect both eyes simultaneously. Some common symptoms of stye include:
- Swelling or a lump on the eyelid.
- Pain and tenderness in the eye.
- Itching sensation in the eye.
- Crusting upon the margins of the eyelids.
- Burning in the eye.
A stye is highly contagious so you should be careful when using and sharing eye products to avoid others catching the infection.
Your doctor can help diagnose a stye by looking at your eye. The condition rarely needs lab test to be identified.
How to Get Rid of Stye Using Naturopathic Remedies
CURE 1: Home Remedies
These home remedies for stye will help in healing the infection faster.
1. Massage
Why to use?
Massaging on your lower and upper eyelid will help to promote drainage. Massage the area with clean hands and once the pus starts to drain, do not touch the area.
How to use
Wash your hands and gently massage the area above and below the infection.
How much to use?
To cure stye, gently massage the infected area 2-3 times a day.
2. Warm compress
Why to use?
A hot and cold compress is the most effective way to treat stye. The warmth from the compress can facilitate drainage of the pus and also reduce the excess oil around your eyelids.
How to use
Warm compress for a minute or so and place it over your eye. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes.
How much to use?
You can use a warm compress for stye 2-3 times a day.
3. Warm tea bag
Why to use?
Much like a hot compress, using a warm tea bag for stye can help reduce it. Using a black tea bag is especially good since it has antibacterial properties.
How to use
Boil water and put a tea bag in the mug, like you would do when brewing tea. Let it steep for 1 minute and remove the bag. Now, let it cool a bit then place it over your eye. Use a separate tea bag for each eye if you have stye in both eyes.
How much to use?
You can use a warm tea bag once or twice a day to heal stye.
4. Lemon and honey
Why to use?
Lemon is an antiseptic which will help fight bacteria and honey can help soothe the irritation caused by stye.
How to use
Mix 2 teaspoon of lemon and 1 spoon of honey and dip a cotton ball in the paste. Place the cotton over your eye and leave it on for 10 minutes.
How much to use?
You can apply the lemon and honey paste twice a day to treat stye.
5. Wash with soap water
Why to use?
Soap water can help keep your eye clean and also help wash away the oils that accumulate under your eye.
How to use
Take some gentle soap and mix it into hot water. Dip a clean cloth in the mix and clean all around your eye with the cloth.
How much to use?
You can use the soap water mix twice a day to heal stye.
6. Coconut oil
Why to use?
Coconut oil is antifungal and antibacterial, which will help to reduce inflammation in the eye. Coconut oil is also soothing and will help to relieve the burning sensation.
How to use?
Take some drops of coconut oil on a cotton pad and gently massage under your eyelid.
How much to use?
For effective result, use coconut oil for stye twice a day.
7. Boric acid
Why to use?
Boric acid is generally used as an eyewash because of its antiseptic nature. According to a study, the ingredients in boric acid are also used in eye drops since they clean the eye from within.
How to use?
Boric acid eye wash are available as eye drops in an eye cup. Use these drops as you would apply a regular eye drop.
How much to use?
You can use boric acid for stye once a day or as recommended on the packet.
| A stye will not affect you vision and both near and far vision will remain the same. |
[ Read: How to Cure Eye Infection? ]
CURE 2: Supplements
Not getting proper nutrition is a primary cause of stye. If you do get a stye, taking certain supplements can speed up the healing process. Following are certain supplements to treat stye.
1. Vitamin A
Why to use?
Vitamin A helps strengthen your immune system. It also contains antioxidants that help to fight the bacteria.
How to use?
Take vitamin a as a capsule once a day with your meal.
How much to use?
The daily recommended intake of vitamin A is 900 mcg.
2. Vitamin C
Why to use?
Vitamin C contains antioxidants and has anti astringent properties that can help to heal stye quickly.
How to use?
Vitamin C is available as chewy capsules or powder that can be taken at any time.
How much to use?
It is advised to take 60 mg of vitamin C every day.
3. Vitamin E
Why to use?
Vitamin E oil is popularly used to treat dry skin and inflammation. Taking vitamin E supplements can also have the same benefits.
How to use?
Take vitamin e supplements with your meals twice a day.
How much to use?
The daily intake of vitamin E is 15 milligrams.
4. Zinc
Why to use?
Zinc is a trace element that is essential for the immune system.
According to a study by Linus Pauling Institute, a deficiency of zinc can cause lower resistance to negative health occurrences.
How to use?
Zinc supplements are available in tablet form, which can be taken with your meal.
How much to use?
The recommended intake of zinc is 11 mg per day.
5. Goldenseal
Why to use?
This herb is popularly used to treat infections of various types. It contains berberine, an active compound that can cure most eye infections.
How to use?
Goldenseal can be taken in small doses for a short term to cure stye.
How much to use?
Consult with your doctor before starting goldenseal as a supplement.
6. Echinacea
Why to use?
Echinacea is a natural remedy for flu and infection since it helps boost immunity and facilitates faster healing.
How to use?
Echinacea is generally available in powder form which should be taken with a glass of warm water on an empty stomach.
How much to use?
Small doses of echinacea can be taken daily, but the exact dosage should be checked with your doctor.
| Styes can be internal and external and can usually heal on their own without external intervention. |
CURE 3: Essential Oils
Essential oils are used in various skin treatments because of their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, and they can help to treat stye. Below are some of the best essential oils for stye.
1. Lavender oil
Why to use?
Lavender is the gentlest of essential oils and a great natural cure for stye. It helps to soothe the area and its antibacterial properties prevent infection from spreading.
How to use?
Take some drops of lavender oil on a cotton swab and massage the area under the eye with it.
How much to use?
You can massage with lavender oil 2-3 times a day.
2. Tea tree oil
Why to use?
Tea tree oil is antibacterial and a natural antiseptic, making it an effective treatment for stye. The oil is used in many eye wipes since it can help remove the bacteria and eyelash mites.
How to use?
Tea tree oil is potent and should not be applied directly. You can use a tea tree oil based cleanser or wipe to clean your eyes.
How much to use?
Keeping your eye clean can reduce stye much faster, so make sure to use tea tree oil for stye in any form once or twice a day
3. Clove oil
Why to use?
Clove oil is anti-inflammatory and will help to reduce the swelling over your eye. It is also antibacterial and can help to fight the bacteria and reduce infection.
How to use?
Mix clove oil with coconut oil and dip a cloth into the mix. Place the cloth over your infected eye. Ensure that the oil does not go into your eye.
How much to use?
You can apply clove oil once a day for stye relief
4. Eucalyptus oil
Why to use?
The anti-inflammatory properties of eucalyptus oil can help to reduce the pain and swelling associated with stye.
How to use?
Dilute eucalyptus oil with a carrier oil then dip a cotton pad on it and apply it over the eye
How much to use?
Use eucalyptus oil once a day to heal stye.
5. Lemon oil
Why to use?
Lemon has antiseptic and astringent properties that will keep your eye clean and prevent the bacteria from spreading.
How to use?
Lemon oil is another potent oil so dilute it with a carrier oil and apply it over your eyelids.
How much to use?
You can use lemon oil 1-2 times a day to keep your eyelids clean.
| Popping a stye can cause an infection in the eye, which can affect you vision. |
Prevention Tips
Stye is an infection, and like most infections, you can do prevent stye.
- Wash your hands properly before you touch the skin around your eye. Also, avoid rubbing your eye too much as it can weaken the tissues within.
- Expired and dirty cosmetics should be avoided, since they may cause eye infections.
- Clean your eyes regularly with warm water to avoid irritation.
- Clean the excess oils from around your eye. Take some baby shampoo on a cotton pad and massage along the base of your eyelids.
- Wash your hands before you put on contact lenses and always use a disinfectant on the contacts before using them.
- Following a proper balanced diet can help to prevent stye, since it can help strengthen your nutrition.
| Stress and hormonal reaction can also cause stye. |
A stye is usually confused with chalazia, which appears similar to a stye but will form a hard bump after a few days and can last for months. A stye, on the other hand, will clear away within a few days and the pus in it will drain away. Though stye is self-treatable, you need to see a doctor if your stye gets bigger, is internal, and is causing a lot of pain.
FAQs
1. How long does it take for stye to heal?
A stye can usually heal by itself within a week. A stye will usually break open and drain after 5 days.
2. What to do for a stye?
Stye can be painful and you can apply a warm compress over it to speed up the healing process.
3. What to do for stye on lower eyelid?
Clean your eyelid regularly with warm water and soap to get rid of stye.
