STYE

Styes are a common type of eye infection which affects the eyelids, causing temporary pain and discomfort. They can be caused by a variety of factors, including everyday things like poor hygiene, improper makeup application or other chronic eye-related conditions.

So, how do you get them, what are they, and how can you treat them? We’ve answered all the most common questions about styes right here.

What is a stye?

A stye will typically form on the outer edge of the eyelid, close to the eyelashes and more often than not causes pain. While a stye will normally only occur in one eye at a time, some people may get them in both eyes at the same time. These would be treated as two separate infections. Some people can also get styes repeatedly.

There are two main types of eyelid styes:

External

These are the most common types of styes and appear as bumps along the edge, outside or even in the corner of your eyelid. They generally go away on their own accord and heal after several days, so rarely require further treatment.

Internal

These are spots or swelling found inside or under the eyelid and are often much more painful than an external stye.

What causes a stye?

Styes are typically caused by a type of bacteria called staphylococci becoming trapped in eyelash follicles or in the eyelid’s meibomian (oil-producing) gland and causing a blockage. Staphylococci usually lives on the skin and is harmless unless it is transferred to the eyes in excessive amounts. Anybody can get a stye, although some people may be more susceptible to them than others.

Risk factors of a stye

Certain things you might be doing could cause you to develop a stye without you realising. These risk factors may cause a stye, so you should take extra care:

Touching and rubbing eyes
Having poor hygiene
Wearing contaminated contact lenses
Using contaminated makeup
Health conditions: including rosacea, eczema and diabetes¹
Reduced blinking from excessive screen use

Furthermore, there are some health or eye-related conditions that could be a risk factor for a stye, including:

Blepharitis
Skin conditions like rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis
Diabetes
MGD

Symptoms of a stye

The first tell-tale sign is normally a red lump on the eyelid with a yellow pus-filled centre. Other common symptoms can include:

Eyelid pain

Eyelid swelling

Watering eyes

Itchy, scratchy feeling

How are styes diagnosed?

They can usually be diagnosed visually by either an eye care professional or a pharmacist. An eye care professional may also use a microscope called a slit lamp to get a closer look of your eyelid, and perhaps invert the eyelid to look at the inside surface, before confirming the diagnosis.

How to treat a stye at home

A stye will usually resolve on its own however there are a few ways you can relieve some of the symptoms:

Warm the stye: Start by using a warm compress on the stye to alleviate any discomfort and reduce inflammation.
Cleanse the area: The next step is to keep the area clean and free from any makeup, dirt or other bacteria by cleansing it regularly. This can prevent further complications or additional infections.
Use ocular lubricants: The eye can feel dry, sore and irritated, so using hydrating ocular lubricants that are preservative-free can help to reduce these symptoms.
Take care of the pain: Any pain caused by your stye can be managed using painkillers to help you continue your usual day-to-day activities while it heals.

How to prevent styes

Whether you get styes regularly or you’re currently experiencing your first one, there are things you can do to help prevent this type of infection in the future. These include the following:

Washing your hands regularly

This helps to kill any bacteria that could get into your eyes.

Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes

By touching your eyes, you could risk transferring bacteria which could cause a stye.

Be mindful of makeup

It’s important to never share makeup with others and check your products aren’t expired or contaminated. You should also take extra care to remove makeup effectively to prevent it from clogging the eyelid glands or eyelash follicles.

Regularly clean contact lenses

Keep them in a proper lens solution whenever they’re not in your eyes, and be sure to wash your hands before putting the lenses in to reduce the potential of bacteria spreading.

Get into a good eye care routine

Warming, cleansing and massaging can help to remove any blockages in the eyelid glands and reduce your risk of infections.

Manage your conditions

If you have any conditions that could increase your risk of developing a stye, make sure you take any necessary medication or keeping any symptoms under control.

Stye FAQs

Are styes contagious?

Styes aren’t contagious through casual contact, meaning that you can’t catch it simply from being close to somebody who has a stye. However, the bacteria which causes them can be spread via contaminated towels and bedding. Taking extra hygiene steps by washing anything touched by the person with the stye and washing your hands regularly can help prevent the spread of infection.

Can you pop a stye?

You should never try to pop or burst a stye yourself. Doing so can cause the infection to spread, which often leads to further complications in the eyes². It can be helpful to express the stye to release any build-up of pus, and then cleanse the eyelid. A medical professional can help you with this.

How long do styes usually last for?

A stye will normally stick around for a few days. If you have a stye for longer than a week and it doesn’t seem to be improving on its own, you should speak to an eye care professional or pharmacist for further advice.

Will a stye heal on its own?

Generally, a stye will heal on its own but might leave a nodule called a chalazion. If a stye doesn’t appear to get better with at-home treatment, you should see an eye care professional or your local pharmacist.

Can stress cause a stye?

Although stress isn’t typically linked as a risk factor for styes, some medical research suggests that stress can weaken the immune system^3,4, which could leave some people more susceptible to infections like styes⁵.

How Théa can help

The Théa eye care range can help you treat your stye at home. Firstly, Blepha EyeBag® can warm the eyelid for relief from discomfort and pain. This easy-to-use microwavable eye mask can conform to your eye and eyelid contour and maintain a consistent temperature throughout the warming process.

Our Blephaclean® PF Eyelid Cleansing Wipes are also perfect for cleansing the area and keeping the eyes comfortable while your stye heals. Safe for use around the eyelids and lashes, these preservative-free, paraben-free and perfume-free wipes can be used when you’re experiencing an infection, inflammation or allergies affecting the eyes.

A note from Théa

If you’re experiencing anything unusual with your eyes or are unsure about any symptoms, we recommend visiting an eye care professional who can help you get a diagnosis and manage any discomfort or pain.

References:
1. Specsavers: Diabetic Retinopathy: https://www.specsavers.co.uk/eye-health/diabetic-retinopathy
2. NHS: Stye: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stye/
3. Morey JN, Boggero IA, Scott AB, Segerstrom SC. Current Directions in Stress and Human Immune Function. Curr Opin Psychol. 2015 Oct 1;5:13-17. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.03.007. PMID: 26086030; PMCID: PMC4465119.
4. Dhabhar FS. Effects of stress on immune function: the good, the bad, and the beautiful. Immunol Res. 2014 May;58(2-3):193-210.
5. NHS: Staph Infection: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/staphylococcal-infections/

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