How To Treat A Stye At Home

If you have ever experienced a stye before, you will know how uncomfortable and irritating they are. A stye looks like a pimple, or a red bump on the outer edge of either your upper or lower eyelid. Sometimes, though not as common, the stye may form on the inner side of the eyelid. So why do they occur?

The eyelid contains many tiny oil glands, and these can become clogged up by dirt, oil or even dead skin. Once this occurs, it creates a great breeding ground for bacteria, and so the style is born. The stye can be painful, increase the amount of tears produced, and form a crusty layer around the eyelid. Often they will go away by themselves, with the help of some home treatments. Of course the best treatment is prevention.

How To Help Prevent Styes

Always wash your hands before you touch any of the areas around your eyes. It may be hard to resist rubbing your eyes sometimes, but make sure your hands are clean before you do so.

As tempting as it may be to hold on to old makeup, you are really not doing your eyes any favors by keeping it. Old mascara, brushes, eyeliners and eyeshadows can all contain bacteria if they have been around for a long time. It is recommended that you throw it out after 3 months.

When Do You Need To See A Doctor?

If you have been using any of the home remedies for a number of days, and the stye is still there or even worse, then you should see your doctor. Occasionally the stye has to be drained, and this can only be done by a medical professional. Sometimes an antibiotic ointment may also need to be prescribed.

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Are Home Treatments Safe?

Most of the time, home treatments will work for styes, and these remedies won’t cause you any further harm or damage. The treatments involve natural products, or methods that are perfectly safe. Because a stye can be generally treated easily, there is usually no need for medical intervention, unless the stye worsens, which may indicate the need for antibiotics or draining.

Treating Your Stye At Home

Warm Compress

The easiest method is to use a warm compress. Simply wet a clean cloth with warm water and wring it out, so it’s not dripping wet. Place it over your eye and hold for about 5 or 10 minutes. Doing this 3 or 4 times a day will help to dissolve the pus in the stye.

Baby Shampoo Washes

Using a mild baby shampoo that is tear-free to wash your eyelids is good for preventing styes, as well as keeping the stye area clean. Mix with a little warm water, then take a cotton swab or clean cloth and dip it in the mixture, then wipe your eyelids very carefully and gently. This can be done every 1 or 2 days.

Teabag Compress

A good teabag to use is a green tea variety, because it contains antibacterial properties and helps reduce any swelling. Boil water and drop in a teabag and let it steep for 1 minute. Before you place it on your eye, make sure it has cooled down so you don’t burn yourself. Leave it on the eye for 5 or 10 minutes. You must use a different teabag for each eye to prevent the spread of the infection.

Coriander Seeds

These seeds have anti-inflammatory properties, so they reduce any swelling and redness. In a small pan, add 1 cup of water and 1 teaspoon of coriander seeds, and then bring to the boil. Take it off the heat and cool. Strain the liquid to remove the seeds then wash your affected eye gently with the liquid. This can be repeated 2 or 3 times a day if necessary.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is one of those wonderful plants that have many health and healing benefits. It is not only soothing on the skin, it also contains both anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.  Take a leaf off the plant and remove the gel from within. Rub this gel over the eyelid with the stye and leave it on for 20 minutes. Then, wash with lukewarm water. This can be repeated a few times each day for 5 days.

Grated Potato

Surprisingly, potato is good for treating styes because it helps to reduce any irritation of the skin. Potato can also help to reduce any pain and inflammation. First grate a potato, and then wrap this in cheesecloth. Place on the eye with the stye for 5-10 minutes 2 or 3 times a day for a total of 4 days.

Cloves

Cloves are not only great for apple pies and toothache, they are also good for treating styes. They relieve both pain and skin irritation, and their antibacterial properties can prevent the infection from spreading. Add 5-6 cloves to a glass of water and let it stand for 10 minutes. Strain the water to remove the cloves. Place a clean cloth in the water until it is soaked, and then wring out the excess. Hold the cloth over the affected area for a few minutes, 3 times a day for a few days.

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Castor Oil

Another old-fashioned ‘cure-all’, castor oil contains an anti-inflammatory property that can reduce inflammation and pain quite quickly. Once the eyelid has been cleaned, apply the castor oil on the stye itself using a cotton swab. This can be repeated twice a day for a few days.

If all else fails, and there doesn’t seem to be any improvement, make sure you go and see your doctor or eye specialist.