The most effective treatment for a stye is a warm compress applied to the affected eye for five minutes, several times a day. Most styes resolve on their own within one to two weeks, and the compress is what speeds that process along. Beyond that, a few over-the-counter options can help manage discomfort while you wait for it to heal.
Warm Compresses Are the Main Treatment
A warm compress does more than soothe the pain. The heat softens whatever is blocking the oil gland or hair follicle, helping the stye drain naturally. To make one, soak a clean washcloth in warm water, wring it out, and hold it gently against the closed eyelid. Five minutes per session, repeated several times throughout the day, is the standard recommendation from Harvard Health.
The washcloth cools quickly, so you may need to re-soak it once or twice during each session. Use a fresh washcloth each time, or at least one that’s been laundered since the last use. Some people find that a microwavable eye mask holds heat longer and is easier to manage, though a washcloth works just as well.
One critical rule: do not squeeze, pop, or try to drain a stye yourself. External styes (the more common type, which form along the eyelash line) typically rupture and drain on their own within two to four days of appearing. Forcing it risks pushing the infection deeper into the eyelid.
Over-the-Counter Products for Pain and Irritation
If the stye is painful, ibuprofen or acetaminophen can take the edge off. These won’t speed healing, but they reduce the throbbing discomfort that comes with an inflamed eyelid. Aspirin should not be given to children under 16.
You’ll also find OTC stye ointments at most pharmacies. The most common ones contain mineral oil and white petrolatum, which are lubricants rather than medications. They temporarily relieve burning and irritation and create a barrier that prevents further irritation from blinking and dryness. They won’t fight the infection itself, but they can make the stye more tolerable while it heals.
Avoid wearing contact lenses or eye makeup on the affected eye until the stye has fully resolved. Both can introduce more bacteria to the area and slow recovery.
External vs. Internal Styes
Most styes are external, forming at the base of an eyelash where bacteria infect a hair follicle or one of the tiny oil glands along the lid margin. You’ll see a small yellowish bump right at the lash line, often surrounded by redness and swelling. It may cause watering, light sensitivity, and a feeling like something is stuck in your eye. These tend to come to a head and drain within a few days.
Internal styes form deeper in the eyelid, in the oil-producing glands on the inner surface. They cause the same pain and swelling but are harder to see from the outside. Instead, you might notice a small raised area or yellow spot when you gently flip the inner eyelid. Internal styes rarely drain on their own and can sometimes cause more intense inflammation, occasionally with fever or chills. If you suspect an internal stye, warm compresses are still the first step, but these are more likely to need professional attention if they don’t improve.
When a Stye Might Be a Chalazion
A chalazion looks similar to a stye but is caused by a blocked oil gland without an active infection. It tends to be less painful, grows more slowly, and often feels like a firm, round lump in the eyelid rather than a tender red bump. Warm compresses and gentle eyelid massage help with chalazia too, since the goal is still to clear the blocked gland.
The key difference is what happens if it doesn’t go away. A persistent chalazion may need a steroid injection or minor surgical drainage, while a stye that lingers is more likely to need antibiotics. If your bump has been around for several weeks, isn’t painful, and isn’t shrinking with compresses, it’s probably a chalazion rather than a stye.
Keeping Your Eyelids Clean
Cleaning the eyelid area helps remove bacteria and prevents a stye from worsening or recurring. A simple approach is to use a clean cotton pad or washcloth dampened with warm water and a very small amount of diluted baby shampoo, gently wiping along the lash line. Pre-made eyelid cleansing wipes and sprays are also available at pharmacies. This is especially useful if you get styes more than once, since repeated infections often point to a buildup of bacteria or debris along the eyelid margin.
Tea tree oil has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, and diluted formulations are sometimes marketed for eyelid hygiene. There is some evidence it helps with blepharitis (chronic eyelid inflammation) linked to microscopic mites that live in eyelash follicles. However, undiluted tea tree oil is toxic to the eye surface and can cause corneal damage. If you want to try a tea tree-based product, only use commercially prepared eyelid wipes or scrubs with safe concentrations, and never apply the essential oil directly.
When Antibiotics Are Needed
Most styes do not require antibiotics. They’re reserved for specific situations: styes that are severe or keep coming back, or cases where the infection has spread beyond the bump itself. The most concerning complication is preseptal cellulitis, where the infection moves into the soft tissue surrounding the eye. Signs include spreading redness and swelling across the eyelid and surrounding skin, fever, and increasing pain.
Seek immediate care if you or your child develops a fever alongside eye swelling, pain when moving the eye, vision changes, or the eye itself begins to bulge forward. These symptoms suggest the infection may be spreading toward the eye socket, which is a medical emergency. For a routine stye that’s simply taking its time, a visit to your doctor or optometrist is reasonable if it hasn’t improved after two weeks of consistent warm compresses.