As is the custom with pimples, eye sties also make their appearance at the most inopportune times. A date, an interview, a party – you name it, and there’s an occasion ruined by a swollen, puffy and painful eye. Sound familiar? Read on to learn how to deal with eye sties.
To put it simply, an eye sty is quite like a pimple in nature. When an oil or sweat gland near your eyelid gets clogged, the usual suspects being dirt, dead skin and oil buildup, bacteria start thriving in the blocked gland.
This leads to an infection that causes a sty. A clogged hair follicle at the base of your eyelashes may produce the same result.
An eye sty may also be called an eyesore or eye cyst. It may cause itching, pain and swelling in the affected area. Sometimes, pus may also form in the sty. While it is mostly irritating, its proximity to the eye is what makes it troublesome.
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Natural Remedies to Treat an Eye Sty
An eye sty usually runs its course and heals on its own in 7 to 10 days. With the aid of some easy remedies, you can save yourself the trouble of going through the worst of the symptoms of the sty.
Here are four super easy way to treat an eye sty fast.
Method 1: Using a Hot Compress
Things you’ll need:
- Warm water
- Soft towel
Step 1. Soak the towel in warm water and apply on eyes
Soak a towel in some warm water. Wring out the excess water so that it is no longer dripping. You may use any old rag, provided that it is soft and comfortable to the touch as well as hygienic.
A warm compress works great at bringing down the pain and swelling in the affected area. (1)
Apply the warm compress over the affected eye. Hold it there for 5 to 10 minutes. If the towel cools down, soak it in the warm water again and put it back over your eye.
This remedy should be repeated 3 or 4 times a day until the sty goes away.
Method 2: Using a Tea Compress
Things you’ll need:
- Hot water
- Tea bag
Step 1. Steep the tea bag in hot water
Take a tea bag of your choice and dunk it in a cup of hot water for 1 minute or so.
Since tea is antibacterial, a tea compress brings down the infection in the sty, thus curing it at its root. A warm tea compress can also help reduce swelling and pain.
While you may use any teabag on hand, green tea works the best because it possesses the most antibacterial properties. Herbal teas like chamomile tea are also a great option.
Step 2. Remove the tea bag and apply it to the affected eye
Remove the tea bag from the water and let it cool down a little. When the temperature of the tea bag becomes bearable, place it over the affected eye. Hold it in place for up to 15 minutes.
Repeat this remedy twice a day until the eye sty vanishes. This can also be used to help get rid of dark circles and puffiness near the eyes.
Method 3: Using Metal
Things you’ll need:
- Any gold ornament, preferably a ring
Step 1. Lightly rub the gold ring a few times over the sty
A popular folk remedy is to gently rub a gold finger ring a few times over the sty. Repeat 3 or 4 times a day.
Ensure that the ring or any gold ornament that you use for this purpose has a blunt design, as any protruding design may cause harm.
Clean and sanitize the ornament before and after rubbing it on the sty.
Method 4: Using Baby Shampoo
Things you’ll need:
- Warm water
- Baby shampoo
Step 1. Dilute baby shampoo with warm water
Squirt a little baby-shampoo in a small bowl filled halfway with warm water. Dissolve the baby shampoo completely into the water.
Cleaning the eye area with baby shampoo helps clear out the area, which gradually cures the sty as well as prevents further infection. (2) An additional benefit of using baby shampoo is that it doesn’t sting the eyes, making the entire process as painless as possible.
Step 2. Use a cotton ball to wash the infected area with diluted baby shampoo
Dip a clean cotton ball into the shampoo solution and use it to clean out the infected area. You may also use a clean cotton swab for this purpose. Wait about 5 minutes, then rinse your eyes with cool water.
Do this twice daily until the sty subsides.
Some helpful tips
- If the sty doesn’t go away within 7 to 10 days, it may be time to consult your doctor. A visit to your doctor is also advised if the sty is extremely painful and accompanied by a fever.
- While using a warm compress or tea compress, maintain hygiene and sanitation. A sty is caused by a bacterial infection and should be dealt with as such.
- Always check the temperature of the warm compress or tea compress before placing it over your eye. The skin around the eyes is quite sensitive, and you wouldn’t want to burn yourself.
- Besides gold, copper and iron may also be rubbed on the sty in order to cure it. A copper penny or an iron nail, whatever you use, must be properly sanitized before and after use.
- The metal object that you use to treat a sty should be blunt and smooth so that it doesn’t harm the skin.
- Maintaining hygiene near the eyes can significantly reduce the incidence of eye sties. Washing your hands before and after touching your eyes and cleaning your eyes twice a day with diluted baby shampoo may prevent future sties.
- Never pop an eye sty. Popping pimples is bad for you, and popping a sty is worse due to its proximity to your eye. It can spread the infection to the surrounding area, giving rise to new sties and causing scarring.
- If you’re experiencing recurring sties, you may need to review your eye makeup and application tools. Just like with pimples, sties can occur if you use old makeup or dirty brushes. Throw out eye makeup that’s too old and clean your makeup brushes.
- If possible, avoid wearing any eye makeup when you have a sty. Wait until it goes away, then start using the new makeup.
Resources:
- Lindsley K, Nichols JJ, Dickersin K. Non-surgical interventions for acute internal hordeolum. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007742.pub4/full. Published January 2017.
- Willmann D. Stye. StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459349/. Published October 27, 2018.