27 Home Remedies for Styes

A stye is a type of small lump that people get on their eyelids. These small bumps are usually red or pink and they look much like a zit. They are incredibly common and not usually much cause for concern. However, they can become annoying, as they are painful. This can make reading, using anything with a bright screen, or focus your vision difficult. Styes usually heal on their own, but there are some home remedies that can help to speed up the process.

 

Internal and External Styes

There are two types of styes: internal and external styes. Internal styes are on the inside of the eyelid, and tend to be more painful than external styes. Luckily, they are also not as common as external styes. External styes are on the outside of the eyelid. These styes can sometimes produce pus, but they are not as painful as internal styes.

 

Symptoms

The most noticeable symptom of either an external or internal stye is a bump on either the top or bottom eyelid. These bumps look almost exactly like a small pimple. The area around the bump (the eyelid or under the eye) is also likely to swell slightly. Other common symptoms are listed below.

• Pain with blinking
• Pain under the eye
• Feeling like something is in the eye
• Redness
• Irritation
• Dry eye
• Pus from the stye
• Crust on the eyelids/eyelashes
• Watery eyes
• Blurry vision

 

Home Remedies for Styes

Most styes heal on their own in about a week. Using home remedies can help the stye to heal faster and the symptoms to be less aggravating. Usually, stye treatments do not require a trip to the doctor’s office. However, if the stye makes it difficult for you to see, then see a doctor, rather than using home remedies.

 

1. Saline Solution

One of the best ways to clean out your eyes is to use a saline solution. Doing this can both help to prevent and treat styes. To use this home remedy, you can buy saline solution and use an eyedropper to put a drop or two into the affected eye. This helps to both clean and lubricate the eyes, which can help with the symptom of having dry eyes.

2. Warm Compress

Using a warm compress is great for treating both the swelling and pus that sometimes come with a stye. To use this home remedy, put a towel into clean warm water. Wring the cloth and then put it over your eyes for several minutes, until there is no more heat coming from the towel. Do this as often as needed to treat your stye symptoms.

You can also use a warm compress to clean the crusty bits off your eyelids/eyelashes. To do this, gently dab your eyes with the warm compress until you can see no more crust around your eyes.

 

3. Don’t Touch!

Styes are painful and itchy, so you may be tempted to touch them. Don’t! Hands are incredibly germy and the last thing you want is to get any bacteria or germs near your eyes. If you are going to touch your eyes, which you shouldn’t, wash your hands before doing so.

In the same vein, do not touch your eyes with anything that is not for the purpose of cleaning your eyes. This includes not touching your eyes with cotton swabs.

Do not pop the stye! This is one of the worst things that you can do. If you desperately need the stye to be drained, see a doctor.

 

4. Don’t Wear Eye Makeup

Eye makeup can both cause styes and make them worse. Not wearing wear makeup can prevent styes from occurring. However, if you are a fan of eye makeup, you can still wear it under two conditions and still avoid styes: do not wear expired eye makeup and wash off the makeup at the end of the day.

If you already have a stye, it is best that you avoid wearing eye makeup entirely until the stye goes away. It is likely to be painful to put on the makeup in the first place, so that should be enough of a deterrent to avoid using it.

 

5. Take a Break from Contacts

Not putting things in your eyes also means not wearing contacts while you have a stye. It is best to keep your eyes as irritation-free while you have a stye if you want it to heal quickly. So, in the meantime, wear your glasses instead.

To prevent styes in the future, make sure that you disinfect your contacts before putting them in. Wearing dirty contacts can sometimes cause a stye. Also, remember to wash your hands before putting in contacts, even if they are disinfected. This little step can make a big difference when it comes to your eye’s health.

 

6. Get More Sleep

Not getting enough sleep can also cause a stye. Your eyes need rest, just like the rest of your body, and sleeping is one of the best ways to give your eyes the rest they deserve. Try to get around eight hours of sleep each night to get the best results. This can both help to prevent and treat styes.

7. Less Screen Time

Staring at a screen for too long can cause tired and dry eyes. Eyes weren’t meant to stare at a screen all day. If you can help it, limit your screen time. This means using the computer, tablet, smartphone, and TV less (ideally not at all) until your stye heals.

If you have a job or class that requires that you use a screen, then try to take small breaks from staring at the screen. Every hour, make sure to get up avoid looking at a screen. Take a walk around the office, use the toilet, or do whatever else you can to give your eyes a break from the screen for even a minute or two.

 

8. Tea Bags

Tea bags aren’t just good for making tea, they can also be used to treat the pain and swelling of a stye. To use this home remedy, make a cup of tea as you usually would. Black tea will work best for this home remedy. Next, put the bags in a cool place, like the fridge, for a couple of minutes. Once the tea bag is nice and cold, put it over your affected eye for ten minutes. Do this as often as needed.

If the cold feels bad on your closed eye, try using a warm tea bag instead. Make sure the bag cools slightly. Do not put it straight from the boiling water to your eyelid! That would only make things work. LIke the cold tea bag, leave it on your closed eyelid for about ten minutes.

 

9. Painkillers

Painkillers might not be a natural home remedy but they can still be useful. These types of medications work because pain is one of the primary symptoms of styes. Take the pills as directed to treat the pain.

 

10. Cucumber

Cucumbers are often used in movies when someone is at the spa. While this may not look like it does anything, it actually does! Cucumbers help to reduce swelling in and around the eyelids. Since swelling is a common symptom of styes, this home remedy is perfect for its treatment.

To use this home remedy, all you need to do is cut a slice of cucumber and place it over your eye for about ten minutes. This is all it takes to reduce the swelling a little. Use this home remedy as often as needed.

 

11. Potato

If you do not have any cucumbers at home, then you can use a potato for the same effect. It doesn’t even matter what type of potato you use. Like the cucumber, they all help to reduce the swelling caused by styes.

To use this home remedy, cut a slice of potato and rinse it off before putting it on your closed eyelid. Leave it on your eyelid for about ten minutes. Use this home remedy as often as needed.

12. Basil

Basil is a wonderful herb that is filled with antibacterial properties. To use this home remedy, you will need to make a tea out of basil leaves. To do this, Pick a few basil leaves and put them in boiling water. Simmer the water until it changes color. Strain out the leaves and allow the water to cool. Once cooled, use this “tea” as an eyewash. Do this a couple of time a day for the best results.

 

13. Coriander Seeds

Like basil, coriander seeds also have antibacterial properties. Also like basil, you can also use a coriander tea as an eyewash. To make this tea, fill a tea ball with coriander seeds and simmer it in hot water until the water changes color. Allow the “tea” to cool before using it as an eyewash.

 

14. Acacia Leaves

Acacia leaves works to treat styes as they help to reduce both the pain and swelling. To use this home remedy, all you need to do is boil a handful of acacia leaves in water. Once the water changes colors, take out the leaves and allow the water to cool. Then, use the water as an eyewash.

 

15. Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera gel has anti-inflammatory properties, which is great news for anyone struggling with a stye. It can also help to reduce the itching that often comes with styes. To use this home remedy, simply put some aloe vera gel on the stye for five minutes. The, rinse off the gel with lukewarm water. Do this up to four times a day to treat your stye symptoms.

 

16. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is one of the most commonly used home remedy ingredients mentioned on this site. It helps to reduce swelling and prevent infection. To use this home remedy, mix two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with eight ounces of warm water. Dip a cotton ball in this mixture and place it over your closed eye for about two minutes. Repeat this up to three times a day to reduce swelling and to keep your eyelid clean.

17. Bitter Gourd

Bitter gourd is another food that works much like cucumber and potato to cure a stye. Use this fruit just like you would use a cucumber. Simply cut a slice a bitter gourd and place it over your eye for about ten minutes. Do this as often as needed to treat your stye.

 

18. Castor Oil

Castor oil is a great oil for treating a variety of ailments, including styes. This can help the stye to heal faster. It may also make the eye less itchy. To use this home remedy, simply rub some castor oil on the stye by using a cotton swab. After fifteen minutes, rinse off the oil. Do this up to three times a day to see results.

 

19. Clove Oil

Clove oil is a type of essential oil that works to keep the stye clean and clear of infection. To use this home remedy, dilute some clove oil with a carrier oil, like jojoba oil. Then, use a cotton swab to gently rub the oil mixture on the stye. Be careful not to poke yourself in the eye. After a few hours, wash your face to get off the oil and other dirt that may be on your face. Do this once a day.

 

20. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil works as a wonderful moisturizer. By keeping your eyelid moisturizer, you can make it less itchy. Using coconut oil also lowers the chances that your stye will become infected. To use this home remedy, all you need to do is use a cotton swab to put a small amount on and around the stye. You can reapply the oil up to three times a day.

 

21. Cream

Warm cream can do wonders to treat the pain and swelling that often comes with styes. To use this home remedy, simply warm some cream and dip a cotton ball in it. Close your eyes and apply the cream to the eyelid. Wait for the cream to dry and then wash your face with warm water. Do this twice a day to get the best results.

22. Guava Leaves

Guava leaves are perfect for treating styes. This is because they help to reduce swelling and pain. As a bonus, they are also antimicrobial, which means they can prevent the stye from becoming infected. To use this home remedy, simmer a handful of guava leaves in water for five minutes. When the time is up, soak a rag in this water and use it as a warm compress for ten minutes. Do up to three times a day to get the best results.

 

23. Honey

Honey is one of nature’s many cure-alls. It works to reduce the pain, itching, and swelling of a stye. Like coconut oil, it also lowers the chances that your stye will become infected. To use this home remedy, simply put a little bit of honey on your stye by using a cotton swab. After about fifteen minutes, rinse off the honey with warm water. Do this up to four times a day to reduce your stye symptoms.

 

24. Lavender Oil

Lavender oil is another helpful essential oil. It can help to treat the swelling of the stye. To use this home remedy, dilute a drop or two or lavender essential oil in a carrier oil. Next, use a cotton swab to apply the oil to the stye. Do this once or twice daily to see results.

 

25. Tamarind Seeds

Tamarind seeds can also be used as an eye rinse. However, this home remedy takes a while in prep time. The wait will be worth it, as this home remedy helps to both treat the pain and swelling that comes with a stye.

To use this home remedy,s soak a handful of tamarind seeds in two cups of water. Let the seeds soak overnight. In the morning, strain out the seeds and use some of the water to wash your eyes. Do this twice a day to get the best results.

 

26. Tea Tree Oil

The last essential oil on this list is tea tree oil. It is known for being great at reducing swelling and itching, as well as lowering the risk of infection. Like the other essential oils on this list, make sure you carefully dilute the oil in a carrier oil before applying it to the stye with a cotton swab. Do this up to twice a day to see results.

 

27. Turmeric

Turmeric is a type of spice that contains many healing properties that can help the stye heal faster, as well as treat the swelling. To use this home remedy. Mix a pinch of turmeric powder in eight ounces of water. It is important that the turmeric is diluted this much, as if it were not, it would hurt the eyes. Next, use this as an eye wash. Do this twice a day to get the fastest results.

Do you know of any other great home remedies to use on a stye? If so, comment below!

References

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/220551.php

https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/best-stye-remedies#tea-bag-compress

https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/effective-home-remedies-for-eye-stye/#gref