Most styes heal on their own within one to two weeks, and the single most effective thing you can do to speed that up is apply warm compresses consistently. A stye forms when an oil gland or hair follicle along your eyelid gets clogged and infected, usually by the common skin bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. The result is a red, tender bump that looks and feels like a pimple on your eyelid.
Warm Compresses Are the Main Treatment
Place a warm, moist cloth over your closed eye for 5 to 10 minutes, 3 to 6 times a day. The heat softens the hardened oil blocking the gland, encourages the stye to drain naturally, and increases blood flow to help your body fight the infection. Consistency matters more than any single session. Many people apply a compress once, don’t see results, and give up. Stick with it for several days.
Use a clean washcloth soaked in warm (not hot) water. Do not microwave a wet cloth, as it can heat unevenly and burn the thin skin of your eyelid. Re-warm the cloth as it cools during each session. You can also buy reusable microwavable eye masks designed for this purpose, but a washcloth works just as well.
After each compress session, gently massage the eyelid with a clean finger. This helps push the contents of the blocked gland toward the surface. Wash your hands before and after touching the area.
What Not to Do
Do not squeeze or pop a stye. Unlike a regular pimple, forcing a stye open can spread the infection deeper into the eyelid or to surrounding tissue. Let it drain on its own or with the help of warm compresses.
Avoid wearing contact lenses while you have an active stye. The lens can harbor bacteria and irritate the already inflamed eyelid. Switch to glasses until the bump has fully resolved. You should also stop wearing eye makeup during this time to avoid reintroducing bacteria or further clogging the gland.
Do Tea Bags or OTC Ointments Help?
Tea bag compresses are a popular home remedy, but the American Academy of Ophthalmology states there is no evidence that a tea bag works any better than a plain warm washcloth. If you prefer using one, it won’t hurt, but you’re not gaining an advantage from the tea itself.
Over-the-counter stye ointments are available at most pharmacies. Their active ingredients are typically mineral oil and white petrolatum, both emollients. These products relieve burning and irritation and lubricate the eye, but they do not claim to heal the stye or fight infection. They’re strictly for comfort while you wait for the stye to resolve. If your symptoms persist beyond 72 hours of using one, the product label itself recommends seeing a doctor.
External vs. Internal Styes
An external stye appears at the base of an eyelash, where small oil and sweat glands sit. It’s the more common type and the one most people picture: a visible, pimple-like bump on the outer edge of the eyelid. When it drains, the material comes out along the lash line.
An internal stye develops deeper in the eyelid, inside a larger oil-producing gland embedded in the eyelid’s inner structure. These tend to be more painful because they press against the eye, and they drain toward the inner surface of the eyelid rather than outward. Internal styes are more likely to linger and develop into a painless, firm lump called a chalazion if the gland stays blocked after the infection clears. The treatment approach is the same for both types: warm compresses, gentle massage, and clean hands.
Typical Healing Timeline
With consistent warm compresses, many styes begin to drain within a few days and fully resolve within a week. Without any treatment, they typically clear up in one to two weeks. Some styes, particularly internal ones, can take longer. If your stye hasn’t improved after two to three weeks of home care, or if it has worsened, a doctor can drain it with a small in-office procedure under local anesthetic.
Signs That Need Prompt Attention
A straightforward stye is a nuisance, not a danger. But infection can occasionally spread beyond the eyelid into the surrounding tissue, a condition called orbital cellulitis that requires urgent treatment. See an eye care provider within one to two days if you notice any of the following:
- Worsening pain or swelling after two to three days of home treatment
- Your eye swells shut or the swelling extends well beyond the eyelid
- Blisters form on the eyelid
- The eyelid feels hot to the touch
- Vision changes, such as blurriness or double vision
- Fever, especially in children with eye swelling
- Bulging of the eye or difficulty moving it
These symptoms suggest the infection has moved beyond the surface and needs prescription treatment.
Preventing Styes From Coming Back
Some people get styes once and never again. Others deal with them repeatedly, often because of a chronic low-grade inflammation of the eyelid margins called blepharitis. If you fall into the second group, a daily eyelid hygiene routine can make a real difference.
Start by placing a warm washcloth over your closed eyes for a few minutes to loosen any crusty buildup along the lash line. Then gently massage your eyelids to help express oil from the glands. Finally, clean the base of your lashes with a cotton swab or clean washcloth dampened with warm water and a few drops of diluted baby shampoo, or a store-bought eyelid cleanser. Do this once or twice daily, using a separate cloth for each eye.
Makeup hygiene also plays a role. Replace mascara every three months, eyeliner every six months, and eyeshadow at least once a year. If any product changes in texture, smell, or consistency before those timelines, throw it out. Never share eye makeup, and always remove it completely before bed. Wash your hands before touching your eyes or handling contact lenses. These small habits reduce the bacterial load around your eyelids and keep the oil glands from clogging in the first place.