Most styes clear up on their own within a week or two with simple home care. The single most effective treatment is a warm compress applied to the affected eye for five minutes, several times a day. That said, some styes need medical attention, and there are a few things you should never do while waiting for one to heal.
What Causes a Stye
A stye forms when bacteria, typically Staphylococcus aureus, get into the oil glands along your eyelid and trigger an infection. The result is a red, painful bump that looks a bit like a pimple at the edge of your eyelid. Styes can form on the outside of the lid, near the base of your eyelashes, or on the inside, deeper within the eyelid tissue. External styes tend to come to a visible head and may drain on their own, while internal styes are less visible and sometimes take longer to resolve.
Warm Compresses Are the First-Line Treatment
A warm, moist compress is the most consistently recommended treatment across every major eye care institution. The heat increases blood flow to the area, loosens the clogged oil in the gland, and helps the stye drain naturally. Harvard Health recommends moistening a clean washcloth with warm water and holding it gently against the closed eye for five minutes, several times a day.
A few tips to get the most out of this:
- Re-wet the cloth as it cools so it stays warm for the full five minutes.
- Use a clean cloth each time to avoid reintroducing bacteria.
- Be consistent. Doing this three to four times daily speeds drainage significantly compared to once or twice.
You can also gently massage the eyelid after the compress to encourage the blocked gland to open. Use clean fingers and light pressure. If you feel the stye start to drain, let it happen on its own. Wipe away the discharge with a clean cloth.
Never Pop or Squeeze a Stye
It looks like a pimple, but squeezing a stye can push the infection deeper into the eyelid tissue. The risks include severe infection that spreads beyond the original bump, permanent scarring or discoloration of the eyelid, and a corneal abrasion if the infection contacts the surface of your eye. Let it drain on its own with the help of warm compresses. If it doesn’t, a doctor can drain it safely.
Over-the-Counter Products for Comfort
OTC stye products won’t cure the infection, but they can make your eye more comfortable while you wait. Most contain lubricants and emollients like mineral oil, white petrolatum, or polyvinyl alcohol. These ingredients keep the eye moist and reduce the burning, stinging, and itching that often accompany a stye. They’re available as both eye drops and ointments.
Avoid using contact lenses while you have a stye, and skip eye makeup until it’s fully healed. Both can reintroduce bacteria and slow recovery.
When a Stye Needs Medical Treatment
If pain and swelling haven’t started improving after 48 hours of consistent warm compresses, it’s time to see a doctor. You should also seek care if redness and swelling spread beyond the eyelid into your cheek or other parts of your face, if pus or blood leaks from the bump, if your eye swells shut, or if your vision gets worse.
For mild to moderate styes that aren’t responding to home care, doctors typically prescribe antibiotic drops or ointments. Oral antibiotics are rarely needed and are reserved for cases where the entire eyelid becomes swollen, red, and painful, something that happens in a small number of cases according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
If a stye persists or hardens into a firm, painless lump (called a chalazion), a doctor can drain it in a quick office procedure. The doctor numbs the eyelid, makes a small incision, and drains the contents. The whole thing takes about 15 to 20 minutes, requires no stitches, and is usually done from the inside of the eyelid so there’s no visible scar. Your eyelid may be sore for a few days afterward, and you’ll typically use an antibiotic cream or drops for about a week.
Preventing Styes From Coming Back
If you get styes repeatedly, the problem is almost always eyelid hygiene. Washing your face isn’t enough on its own, because the oil glands that get infected sit right along the lash line, an area that regular face washing tends to miss. A Duke Eye Center ophthalmologist recommends cleaning your eyelids specifically with diluted baby shampoo (it’s formulated to be gentle near the eyes) and warm water, focusing on the base of the lashes where styes form.
A few situations that increase your risk of clogged eyelid glands:
- Swimming or using hot tubs. Rinse your eyelids after getting out of the water.
- Sweating from exercise. Sweat and oil can block the glands, so wash your lids after a workout.
- Sleeping in makeup. Old mascara and eyeliner are a common source of bacteria near the lash line.
Making eyelid cleaning part of your daily routine, especially if you wear eye makeup or exercise regularly, is the most reliable way to keep styes from recurring.