Stye (sty) or hordeolum, is a harmless small reddish bump that can appear in or outside the eyelid. Most styes don’t require any treatment as they heal themselves and go away within a week, yet it is worthwhile to use certain simple home remedies to reduce the pain of stye and expedite the healing cycle.
Eye stye is a painful condition and it can be embarrassing for some as it distorts your looks. Along with a bump on eyelid, the symptoms of stye include watery eyes, itching, pain, tenderness and/or redness around the stye.
A sty is an acute infection of the secretory glands of both the upper and lower eyelids. Bacteria ( most commonly Staphylococcus bacteria) which enters the eyelid, infects it. The infected area forms a lump which can either point externally and/or internally. The lump that appear like a large pimple has a visible whitish or yellowish spot. Styes can appear on one or both eyelids simultaneously.
Causes of stye range from poor eyelid hygiene or improper eyelid makeup and its removal, to certain inflammatory diseases of the eyelid such as blepharitis, meibomitis, and rosacea. Even stress has also been found to cause Stye. A stye can be formed when an eyelash follicle or an eyelid oil gland gets congested or blocked by excess oil, debris or bacteria.
Natural Cures for Sty
1. Water Splash
Wash your eyes with clean water as many times as you want but at least 5-6 times daily is good. This is one of the most important steps to heal your eye stye. This will not only arrest further spreading of the infection but will also speed up the healing process.
Gently scrub the eyelid with tap water to help with drainage. Close the eyes as you scrub to protect your eyes from injury.
2. Apply Warm Compress
Warm compress helps in draining out the pus from the bump and also relieve your eyes from burning sensation.Dip a clean cloth in lukewarm water and drench it with water. Take the wet cloth out and squeeze out excess water from it. Apply the cloth on your affected eye. Keep it there pressed for 5 minutes. Repeat the process 5-6 times daily.
Other items from Kitchen that Can Help Heal Eye Stye fast
In addition the use of water, there are many other products in the kitchen that relieves the pain of eye stye and heal it fast.
3. Tea Bag
Herbal tea bags are very good compress for bringing out the pus and heal fast. It also helps to reduce infection. You can dip an herbal tea bag in warm water. Make sure that temperature is acceptable to the skin. Squeeze the excess water out of the teabag and press it on your affected eye in the closed position. Keep it there for 5 minutes. Do it 2-3 times a day.
4. Parsley Water
Parsley helps to bring out the toxin and remove the pus from the eye stye bump. You can boil a bunch of parsley for 10 minutes. Dip a clean cloth in the water and then take out the cloth and squeeze the water out. Apply this warm cloth as compress on the affected eye. Always keep the eye closed. Do it 5-6 times a day. This will help heal the eye stye fast.
5. Onion
Onions help to reduce infection and heal eye stye fast. Understand that onions will burn the eyes. Make a slice of onion and keep it on the closed eye on the affected side. Keep it pressed for 5 minutes. Do it 4-5 times a day to get the best results.
6. Garlic Juice
Garlic with anti bacterial and anti fungal properties help to cure infection. Cut a garlic clove in two slices vertically. Apply a slice on the affected area by closing the eye. Keep it there for 5 minutes then apply the other slice for another 5 minutes. Do it 3 times a day. Garlic also will give you a burning sensation and you will smell bad. So wash your face with mild soap after each application.
7. Milk and Turmeric
Turmeric with its anti bacterial anti fungal and antiseptic properties help healing many infections. Drink a glass of warm milk mixed 1/2 teaspoon of with Turmeric is a root of the plant and it has anti fungal elements in it. Drinking of milk once daily mixed with turmeric can thus help in effective reduction of eye stye. It also speeds up the process of healing.
Precautions to Stop Eye Stye
Simple objective here is to ensure that the secretory glands does not get congested, otherwise it will cause a sty. You can take the following precautions to minimize occurrences of eye stye.
- Eye makeup removal - Make sure that the eye make is completely removed. No traces are left and eyelids are completely clean. This kind of daily comprehensive eye make up removal before going to bed can save you from eye stye formation and consequent discomforts.
- Quality of Cosmetics - Don not use any outdated or contaminated cosmetics. They are harmful. Also discontinue use of eye makeup as well as eye lotions and creams which usually gets contaminated with the bacteria from the infection.
- Maintain good eye hygiene - This is absolutely a basic necessity. If you do not maintain hygiene you become prone to infections.
- Treat other conditions that can lead to eye stye - Inflammatory diseases of the eyelids, such as blepharitis, meibomitis, and rosacea can make the condition chronic and you will get frequent bouts of eye stye.
- Reduce Stress - Stress can cause havoc both physically and mentally. One of the outcomes of stress is eye stye. Learn to reduce stress
- Stop use of Contact Lenses - Stop wearing contact lenses during the period of stye, otherwise the infection may spread to the cornea.
The most important aspect is to take precautions to stop its spread. Eye stye is contagious by direct contact so ensure that style of one eye is not passed on to the other or to the other person. Don’t touch your eyes. Prevention is the best stye remedies as it is for so many other conditions and disease.
Another precaution you should take is to ensure that you don’t wear any eye makeup or lenses during the eye stye infection.
If the stye doesn’t go away on its own or with own or by any stye home remedy then you must contact doctor who may prefer to use antibiotics. In most cases if you take the above precautions then eye stye treatment may not be required.