Most styes go away on their own within one to two weeks, and the single best thing you can do to speed that process is apply warm compresses consistently. A stye is essentially a small infected lump near the edge of your eyelid, similar to a pimple, and like a pimple, it needs to drain on its own terms. Here’s how to treat one at home and when to get help.
Warm Compresses Are the First-Line Treatment
Soak a clean washcloth in hot water, test it against your wrist to make sure it’s warm but not hot enough to burn, and hold it against your closed eyelid for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Do this 3 to 5 times per day. Re-soak the cloth frequently to keep it warm throughout each session. The heat softens the clogged oil and encourages the stye to drain naturally.
Consistency matters more than any single session. Many people try a compress once or twice and give up. The stye needs repeated warmth over several days to open up and release the trapped material. If you’re not seeing any improvement after a full week of regular compresses, that’s when it’s time to see a doctor.
What Not to Do
Never squeeze or pop a stye. The American Academy of Ophthalmology warns that popping a stye can release bacteria and spread the infection to other parts of the eye. It’s tempting because it looks so much like a pimple, but the tissue around your eye is delicate and well-supplied with blood vessels, making it easy for infection to spread quickly.
You should also avoid wearing contact lenses or eye makeup while you have an active stye. Both can introduce more bacteria to the area or irritate already inflamed tissue. Toss any eye makeup you were using when the stye appeared, since the products may be contaminated.
Over-the-Counter Relief Options
OTC stye ointments typically contain mineral oil and white petrolatum. These are lubricants and emollients, not antibiotics. They temporarily relieve burning and irritation and help prevent further dryness around the eye, but they won’t kill the bacteria causing the infection. Think of them as comfort measures while your body does the actual healing.
If pain is bothering you, a standard oral pain reliever can help with the soreness and tenderness.
When a Doctor Needs to Step In
Most styes resolve without medical treatment, but some need professional care. See a doctor if:
- The stye hasn’t improved after one week of consistent warm compresses
- Swelling spreads beyond the eyelid to your cheek or other parts of your face
- Your vision changes or the eye itself becomes very red and painful
- You develop a fever alongside the stye
- Styes keep coming back, which may warrant a biopsy to rule out other conditions
A doctor may prescribe a topical antibiotic ointment for a persistent stye. Oral antibiotics are typically reserved for more serious situations, like when the infection spreads to the surrounding skin (a condition called preseptal cellulitis) or when someone has a history of multiple recurring styes. In rare cases, a doctor can perform a small in-office procedure to drain the stye through a tiny incision.
Stye vs. Chalazion
People often confuse styes with chalazions because both are bumps on the eyelid, but they’re different problems. A stye is an active infection, usually at the base of an eyelash. It’s red, painful, and tender to the touch from the start. A chalazion is a blocked oil gland in the eyelid that swells up but typically isn’t painful or infected. Chalazions tend to sit farther from the eyelid’s edge and grow slowly.
The initial treatment is the same for both: warm compresses. But chalazions are more likely to linger and more likely to need a minor drainage procedure if they don’t resolve. A large chalazion can even press on the eyeball enough to cause blurry vision. If your bump isn’t tender, isn’t near your lash line, and has been growing slowly for weeks, it’s probably a chalazion rather than a stye.
Preventing Styes From Coming Back
Styes are caused by bacteria getting into the oil glands or hair follicles of your eyelids. Keeping your eyelids clean is the most effective prevention strategy, especially if you’re prone to recurrences.
Start with a warm washcloth over your closed eyes for about two minutes to loosen oil and crusty debris along the lash line. Then gently clean along your lashes using one of a few options: premoistened eyelid wipes designed for this purpose, a hypochlorous acid spray or gel (which kills bacteria and reduces inflammation), or a diluted tea tree oil solution. For tea tree oil, mix one drop with two or three drops of water, olive oil, or coconut oil, and apply with a cotton swab. Use a fresh pad or swab for each eye, then rinse with clean water and pat dry.
Doctors used to recommend baby shampoo for eyelid cleaning, but it contains chemicals that may not be ideal for the sensitive skin around your eyes. The dedicated eyelid products work better. Making this a regular habit, especially if you’ve had more than one stye, can significantly reduce your chances of getting another one.