How to Heal Eye Styes

Styes of the eye are caused by a bacterial infection on the edge of the eyelid or even underneath the eyelid. They can look like a pimple or a small red lump and cause minor pain and itching. While not dangerous, left untreated a stye can become a chalazion which can require medical attention and necessitate the need for lancing and drainage of the infected area by a trained professional. When caught early, home treatment often takes care of the stye and avoids further complications.

Things You'll Need

• Hand soap
• Hot water
• Washcloth
• Raspberry leaf tea

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Instructions

Stye treatment

• 1

  If you suspect you have a stye, wash your hands with hand soap and gently inspect the eyelid near the inflamed area, being careful not to cause more irritation. Remove any makeup from the area and take out contact lenses. If the stye is especially tender or painful, consider keeping any make-up and contact lenses removed until the area is healed.

• 2

  Steep the raspberry leaf tea in hot water and remove the teabag or strain the loose tea. Make sure the temperature of the brewed tea will not burn; tepid temperature or cooler should be just fine. Use the tea as an eyewash and rinse the eye including the area with the stye.

• 3

  Soak a washcloth in hot water to make a hot compress. Care should be taken to ensure that the hot water will not scald. Squeeze out the excess water and apply directly to the area that has the stye. Keep the hot compress applied for five to ten minutes and repeat a few times a day (minimum of twice and upwards of six times is acceptable). The heat will help the stye come to a head, like a pimple, and within two to four days, the stye should rupture and drain. Any pain or irritation should also be relieved. If a stye persists, medical attention from a professional should be sought.

• 4

  If styes are a recurring problem, consider boosting your immune system with Vitamin A. Old eye make-up or eye make-up that's been shared can harbor and carry bacteria that can cause styes and should be discarded. Resist the urge to try and force the stye to pop as this can lead to bigger problems, including the possibility of the infection spreading into the body and the bloodstream.