A stye, medically known as a hordeolum, is a common bacterial infection of an oil gland located within the eyelid. It typically appears as a red, tender bump along the eyelid margin, often resembling a pimple. While often harmless and resolving on its own, the safety of wearing makeup with a stye is a frequent question. This article provides guidance on appropriate practices to ensure eye health during a stye.
Why Avoiding Makeup is Crucial
Wearing eye makeup is generally not recommended when a stye is present due to several risks. Applying cosmetics can irritate the sensitive and inflamed eyelid, worsening discomfort and swelling. Applying or removing makeup can also spread the bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, to other parts of the affected eye or even to the unaffected eye.
Makeup products can become contaminated with bacteria from the stye, leading to re-infection even after the stye has healed. Mascara wands, eyeliner pencils, and eyeshadow brushes can harbor these microbes. Makeup can block the stye’s natural drainage, prolonging healing and exacerbating the infection. An allergic reaction to makeup ingredients can also introduce further complications to the healing stye.
Essential Eye Care Practices
Effective stye management involves focusing on hygiene and supportive care rather than attempting to conceal it with makeup. Applying warm compresses is a primary home treatment that encourages the stye to drain naturally. A clean washcloth soaked in warm (not hot) water and wrung out should be placed over the closed eyelid for 10-15 minutes, three to five times daily.
Gently cleaning the eyelid helps remove debris and bacteria. This can be done using a mild, tear-free baby shampoo diluted with warm water, applied with a clean cotton swab or washcloth. Avoid touching or rubbing the eyes, as this can transfer more bacteria and increase irritation.
To prevent re-infection, all eye makeup products, especially mascara and liquid eyeliner, used while the stye was present should be discarded. Replace mascara and eyeliner every three to six months, regardless of stye presence. Sharing makeup products with others should be avoided to prevent bacterial transfer. If contact lenses are worn, switch to glasses until the stye has fully healed to prevent contamination of the lenses and further irritation.
When Professional Medical Advice is Needed
While most styes resolve with home care, certain signs indicate the need for medical evaluation. If the stye shows no improvement after two to three days of home treatment, or if it appears to be worsening, seek medical advice. Increased pain or swelling beyond the initial presentation warrants attention, as does any noticeable change in vision, even slight blurring.
If redness or swelling extends beyond the eyelid to other facial areas, this could signal a spreading infection. Those who experience frequent or recurrent styes may also benefit from a medical assessment to identify any underlying causes. Styes that form on the inside of the eyelid, known as internal hordeola, can be more painful and may require medical intervention if they do not resolve on their own.