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.
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:
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.
These home remedies for stye will help in healing the infection faster.
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.
To cure stye, gently massage the infected area 2-3 times a day.
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.
Warm compress for a minute or so and place it over your eye. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes.
You can use a warm compress for stye 2-3 times a day.
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.
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.
You can use a warm tea bag once or twice a day to heal stye.
Lemon is an antiseptic which will help fight bacteria and honey can help soothe the irritation caused by stye.
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.
You can apply the lemon and honey paste twice a day to treat stye.
Soap water can help keep your eye clean and also help wash away the oils that accumulate under your eye.
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.
You can use the soap water mix twice a day to heal stye.
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.
Take some drops of coconut oil on a cotton pad and gently massage under your eyelid.
For effective result, use coconut oil for stye twice a day.
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.
Boric acid eye wash are available as eye drops in an eye cup. Use these drops as you would apply a regular eye drop.
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? ]
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.
Vitamin A helps strengthen your immune system. It also contains antioxidants that help to fight the bacteria.
Take vitamin a as a capsule once a day with your meal.
The daily recommended intake of vitamin A is 900 mcg.
Vitamin C contains antioxidants and has anti astringent properties that can help to heal stye quickly.
Vitamin C is available as chewy capsules or powder that can be taken at any time.
It is advised to take 60 mg of vitamin C every day.
Vitamin E oil is popularly used to treat dry skin and inflammation. Taking vitamin E supplements can also have the same benefits.
Take vitamin e supplements with your meals twice a day.
The daily intake of vitamin E is 15 milligrams.
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.
Zinc supplements are available in tablet form, which can be taken with your meal.
The recommended intake of zinc is 11 mg per day.
This herb is popularly used to treat infections of various types. It contains berberine, an active compound that can cure most eye infections.
Goldenseal can be taken in small doses for a short term to cure stye.
Consult with your doctor before starting goldenseal as a supplement.
Echinacea is a natural remedy for flu and infection since it helps boost immunity and facilitates faster healing.
Echinacea is generally available in powder form which should be taken with a glass of warm water on an empty stomach.
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. |
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.
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.
Take some drops of lavender oil on a cotton swab and massage the area under the eye with it.
You can massage with lavender oil 2-3 times a day.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
You can apply clove oil once a day for stye relief
The anti-inflammatory properties of eucalyptus oil can help to reduce the pain and swelling associated with stye.
Dilute eucalyptus oil with a carrier oil then dip a cotton pad on it and apply it over the eye
Use eucalyptus oil once a day to heal stye.
Lemon has antiseptic and astringent properties that will keep your eye clean and prevent the bacteria from spreading.
Lemon oil is another potent oil so dilute it with a carrier oil and apply it over your eyelids.
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. |
Stye is an infection, and like most infections, you can do prevent stye.
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.
A stye can usually heal by itself within a week. A stye will usually break open and drain after 5 days.
Stye can be painful and you can apply a warm compress over it to speed up the healing process.
Clean your eyelid regularly with warm water and soap to get rid of stye.