You can manage an eye stye with home care and nonprescription remedies. Most styes clear up within 7–10 days. See a healthcare provider if your stye worsens or persists beyond two weeks.
Your eyelids contain numerous tiny oil glands, particularly along the lash line.
When dead skin, debris, or excess oil blocks these small openings, bacteria can grow inside and produce a pimple-like, often painful bump called a stye, or hordeolum.
The bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis are responsible for many styes.
“Styes typically resolve on their own within 7–10 days,” Dr. Michele Green, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York, told Healthline.
Below are six methods to help speed recovery from a stye.
1. Apply a warm compress
A warm compress is the most helpful treatment for a stye. Heat encourages the pus to rise to the surface and helps the lesion drain naturally.
Soak a clean washcloth in warm water — not scalding — and wring it so it’s damp but not dripping. Gently place it on your closed eyelid for about 10–15 minutes. Never squeeze or try to lance the stye.
To maintain warmth, rewarm the cloth every 30 seconds by dipping it in warm water and wringing it out. Repeat the compress about four times a day for best results.
Instead of a cloth, a warm tea bag may be used. Black tea is preferable because it can help reduce swelling and has antibacterial effects.
Pour boiled water into a cup, steep a tea bag for roughly one minute, then allow it to cool to a comfortable temperature before placing it over your eye for about 5–10 minutes. Rewarm it every 30 seconds in warm water and wring out. Use a fresh tea bag for each affected eye.
“Black tea compresses twice daily may lower swelling and ease discomfort from a stye,” Green said.
If wet compresses irritate your skin, you can create a dry warm compress by filling a sock with uncooked rice and microwaving it for about 20 seconds. Gently press on the bump to encourage drainage, and perform this three to four times daily.
2. Gently cleanse your eyelid with mild soap and water
Green recommends avoiding harsh synthetic chemicals around the eyes. Choose hypoallergenic, nonirritating products.
“The skin around the eyes is much thinner than the rest of the face, so use caution with products in this area,” Green said.
She suggests OCuSOFT for eyelid cleansing because it’s effective against bacteria commonly found on the eyelid and has been shown to eliminate multiple bacterial strains, according to Green.
You can also mix a tear-free baby shampoo with warm water. Use a cotton swab or clean washcloth to gently wipe the lids. Do this daily until the stye resolves.
Keeping the eyelids clean also lowers the chance of future styes.
Saline solution is another option; it can aid drainage and help break down bacterial membranes.
3. Take OTC pain relievers
Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help control discomfort. Follow the dosing instructions on the product label.
4. Avoid using eye makeup
Don’t wear makeup while you have a stye. Cosmetic products can increase irritation and slow recovery.
Makeup can also become contaminated and spread bacteria back to your eye. Clean reusable brushes frequently.
Discard eye products like mascara and eyeliner that are older than three months, and throw out any items used while you had a stye since they may harbor bacteria.
5. Skip contact lenses
If you wear contacts, switch to glasses until the stye clears. Bacteria from the stye can transfer to lenses and perpetuate the infection.
When the stye has healed, replace your contact lenses with a new set to minimize the chance of recurrence.
6. Massage the area to encourage drainage
Light massage combined with lid wipes can promote drainage. Use clean hands and massage gently.
After the stye drains, keep the area clean and avoid touching your eyes. Stop massaging if it causes pain.
When should I seek medical care?
See a doctor if the stye causes significant pain or disrupts daily activities. A physician may prescribe an antibiotic ointment such as erythromycin to apply for a period. However, studies suggest topical antibiotics aren’t always effective.
Consult a provider if a stye lasts more than two weeks or doesn’t respond to home care. Recurrent styes warrant medical evaluation because they may indicate an underlying issue like conjunctivitis, blepharitis, or cellulitis.
Contact a clinician if you notice increasing redness and swelling of the skin around the stye or persistent inflammation and crusting in the eyelid area without a visible bump.
Seek immediate care if you experience persistent changes in vision that don’t improve after blinking or develop light sensitivity.
If symptoms fail to improve, an ophthalmologist may need to provide specialized treatment and might drain the lesion, especially if it’s internal or affecting eyesight.
How to reduce the risk of getting a stye
To prevent styes, wash your hands thoroughly before touching your eyes. Remove eye makeup every night. You can also clean your eyelids with a cotton swab dipped in warm water and mild soap or shampoo.
Having one stye increases the chance of another. Regular warm compresses can help prevent recurrence.
Avoid touching the stye except when cleaning or applying warm compresses to limit bacterial spread and irritation. If you must touch it, use clean hands and wash afterward.
Frequently washing pillowcases is another helpful preventive step.
Frequently asked questions about styes
Can I get rid of a stye overnight?
It’s unlikely a stye will clear overnight. Most heal in 7–10 days. Applying a warm compress is the most effective way to accelerate healing and relieve discomfort.
Wet a clean washcloth with warm water, wring it so it’s damp but not dripping, and place it over your eye for about 10 minutes. Repeat 3 to 6 times daily.
DO NOT squeeze or attempt to pop the stye.
What causes an eye stye?
A stye results from a bacterial infection. Most are caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Staphylococcus epidermidis.
What’s the quickest way to treat a stye?
With home care, a stye typically heals in about 7–10 days. Warm compresses applied for 5–10 minutes several times daily may speed healing. Over-the-counter ointments or pads can also be helpful.
Allow the stye to resolve naturally. Don’t squeeze or open it, and avoid makeup and contact lenses until it’s fully healed.
Is it safe to pop a stye?
Because styes are bacterial, do not pop, squeeze, or manipulate them. Squeezing can push pus further into the eyelid and increase the risk of a wider infection.
Talk to a doctor if home treatments don’t clear the stye.
Are styes contagious?
Styes themselves aren’t directly contagious; you don’t catch a stye from someone else through casual contact. They’re a localized inflammatory response.
However, picking at a stye can spread bacteria to other parts of your eyelid or to surfaces, potentially causing additional infection.
How long will a stye last?
A stye may last several weeks or even longer if untreated, though it shouldn’t be left to persist for months.
If a stye continues beyond two weeks, see a healthcare professional.
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