Styes: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention

Medically Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev on March 15, 2024
Written by Kim Painter, Paul Frysh
6 min read

If you notice a bump that looks like a pimple on your upper or lower eyelid, it might be a stye. It's an infection in the oil glands around the eyelids and most often shows up next to your eyelashes. Usually, this red, painful bump filled with pus lasts a few days, then bursts and heals. But in some cases, you'll need treatment for the infection.

You usually get a stye in one eye at a time. Some people get them repeatedly.

Chalazion vs. stye

A chalazion is a different kind of eyelid bump. It most often shows up on the underside of your upper eyelid. But you can get one on the lower lid, too. It's caused by blocked oil glands in your lid, not an infection. But it can sometimes form after a stye. Unlike a stye, it's usually not painful. Chalazia (the plural of chalazion) often last longer than styes, for weeks or months, but usually go away on their own.

Stye vs. pink eye

Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is inflammation of the membrane lining your inner eyelid and the surface of your eyeball. The telltale sign is that the whites of your eye look reddish or pink. But you can also get swollen, crusty eyelids. Like a stye, pink eye can be caused by a bacterial infection, but it's usually caused by a virus. Unlike a stye, pink eye is contagious. 

There are two types of styes:

External stye. This is the most common type. It forms on the outer edge of your lid, near your lashes. It's caused by infection in a tiny oil gland in an eyelash follicle.

Internal stye. These form on the inside of your eyelid. The cause is infection in a gland that produces oils to keep your eyelids moist. 

A stye can cause a small, red, painful lump at the base of your eyelash (external stye)  or a bump inside the lid (internal stye). You might also notice:

  • Eyelid swelling
  • Eye discharge
  • Crustiness on the lid
  • Light sensitivity
  • An itchy, scratchy eye
  • A feeling that something is in your eye
  • Teary, watery eyes

 

 

 

Bacteria--most often a type called staphylococcus--are the root cause of most styes.Your body is coated with billions of friendly bacteria that live right along with you. Most of the time there's no problem. But when conditions are right, too many bacteria grow and you get an infection. 

The conditions that trigger an eye stye vary. It could happen when you  touch or rub your eyes a lot, with hands that carry bacteria. You might do that more often during allergy season when your eyes get itchy. Using old makeup or leaving eye makeup on overnight could also set up an infection.

If bacteria infect an inner eyelid gland, you get an internal stye. When you get an infection in a gland in your eyelash follicle, it causes an external stye.

Are eye styes caused by stress?

Styes are not directly caused by stress. They are caused by an infection. But stress might raise your risk for an infection.

Are styes contagious?

Styes don't generally pass from one person to another or even from one eye to the other. But you might spread around small amounts of bacteria if you touch your eye and don't wash your hands. 

You are more likely to get styes if you have had them before or if you have:

  • Frequently inflamed eyelids, a condition called blepharitis
  • Skin problems, such as acne, rosacea, dandruff, or dryness
  • Diabetes
  • Ongoing hormonal changes
  • High levels of harmful cholesterol
  • Habits that increase the risk of infection, such as touching your eyes with unwashed hands, leaving eye makeup on overnight, or using old cosmetics.

 

Most styes don't require medical attention. They rarely affect your eyeball or eyesight. But you should call your doctor if any growth around your eye:

  • Doesn't improve within a few days
  • Grows really fast
  • Starts to bleed
  • Affects your vision

Unusual color in the white of your eye or reddening in your cheeks or the rest of your face could be a sign of a spreading infection. If that happens, see your doctor as soon as possible.

You'll probably recognize a stye when you get one and, in most cases, you won't need to seek medical care. If you do, go to your regular doctor or an eye doctor--they can usually diagnose a stye just by looking at you. They might use a light and magnifying glass to more carefully examine your eyelid. In some cases, you might get a more thorough eye exam.

A stye ofen looks like a pimple. So you might be tempted to try popping it. Resist the urge. If you squeeze and pop a stye, the infection could spread to other parts of your eye.

The fastest way to get rid of a stye is to use warm compresses: hold a warm, damp, clean, washcloth on your eyelid for 10-15 minutes, 3-5 times a day. This can help soften, unclog, and drain a stye. Warm compresses also help with chalazia.

If self-treatment doesn't work, check in with your regular doctor or an eye doctor. They may offer additional treatments.

Stye drainage

The doctor might numb the area and make a small cut to drain the pus.

Stye medicine

You might get a prescription antibiotic ointment to apply to your eye for a few days. Or you might get antibiotic pills if you had a draining procedure or if the area around your eye is infected as well.

In some cases, you might get an injection of steroid medicine to reduce eyelid swelling.

Stye eye drops

Antibiotic eye drops can also be prescribed. In addition, you can ask your doctor about nonprescription drops and other products that might help soothe your eye.

 

 

 

In addition to warm water compresses, you might try:

Green tea compresses. You can soak green tea bags in warm water and apply them to your eyes. Some research shows that natural substances in green tea can break down the cell walls of bacteria, acting as a natural antibiotic. Eye experts are divided on whether green tea makes a difference with styes. But the moist tea bags should be safe and at least as effective as warm water alone. 

Eyelid cleaners. You can use eyelid cleaning pads sold in stores to gently wipe the eye. Or you can make your own eye wash solution of half baby shampoo and half water. 

It's also best to give your eye a break from possible irritation by skipping eye makeup and contact lenses until the stye is gone. 

If you're prone to styes, changing a few habits can help prevent them from returning.

Wash your hands frequently. Hands often carry dirt and germs that can infect or clog pores or hair follicles near your eye and cause a stye. Keep them clean with soap and warm water, or a hand sanitizer with alcohol.

Avoid touching your eyes. It can be tempting to rub your eyes when they're itchy, especially during allergy season. Try to resist it and consider allergy medication if it helps with the itch.

Wash off makeup at night. Makeup can block pores and hair follicles.

Keep makeup fresh. Get rid of products like eyeliner and mascara after 2 to 3 months. And never share your makeup with anyone.  

Keep contacts clean. Wash your hands before handling them and follow your doctor's advice for cleaning and disinfecting them. 

Manage blepharitis. If you have frequently inflamed eyelids, get and follow your doctor's advice for managing the condition. That might include cleaning your eyelids every day.

Having a stye on your eye can be painful and annoying. But it's good to know that most styes can be treated with warm compresses and will go away in a few days. While they aren't contagious and rarely cause any serious eye problems, in some cases, you  might need to see a doctor for treatment.