A stye is a red bump, resembling a small pimple on the outside edge of
the eyelid. But, in some cases, they can develop on the inner side of
the eyelid as well. The main cause for sties is the dead skin, oil, and
dirt buildup in the eyelids.
Some of the main symptoms of a stye are the following:
- Increased tear production
- Swelling
- Crust that forms around the eyelid
- Pain
Go Natural
Never put makeup over a stye, as it irritates the eyes even more, which in turn delays the healing process. Moreover, you can get bacteria from the stye on your brushes and pencils which can spread the infection to the other eye. The same goes for contact lenses. If you wear contact lenses, stick with glasses during the healing process, as the bacteria from stye can spread the infection.
Wash your Hands
Touching your eyes with dirty hands brings new particles and dirt that can irritate the existing stye. Wash your hands with soap and water before touching the eyes in order to prevent sties.
Teabag Compress
You can approach this issue by using tea bag compress. It is recommended to use green tea because it acts as an antibacterial agent and it reduces the swelling. Bring water to boil and add the teabag. Let the tea steep for a while. Wait until the tea bag cools and places over the eye. Let it work for 5-10 minutes.
Use a Warm Washcloth
Wet a clean washcloth with warm water and apply over the eye. Let it work for 5-10 minutes. Repeat 3-4 times daily. The warmth dissolves the pus and allows the stye to drain naturally.
Baby Shampoo
Future sties can be easily prevented by cleaning the eyelids on regular basis. It is recommended to mix a bit of warm water with tear-free shampoo and to gently wipe the eyelids with a clean washcloth. Do this cleaning every day or two.