Stye Treatment

There are several self care and medical options for treating a stye. A stye is an infection of the sebaceous glands along the eyelid which is also known as a hordeolum. Many sties resolve on their own, and self care is often enough to treat a stye. The problem usually clears up within a week or so. Sometimes a visit to the phiscian's office for additional treatment options may be necessary.

Sties form when bacteria goes into the sebaceous glands along the eyelids which leads to infection and inflammation.

The area in and around the gland turns puffy and red, typically turning into a small and often very painful bump with a little white dot. When you treat a stye, the target is to avoid the spread of bacteria, motivate the stye to explode so that it can drain, and to clear up the irritation.

Warm compresses alleviate the inflammation and promote drainage. When you treat a stye, you should never attempt to pop or puncture it, as you could harm your eye or cause the bacteria to spread. Even if the stye is painful, patient applications of warm compresses generally do the trick. You can also take aspirin to bring down the pain and swelling. Eating a good diet to encourage immune system health is also a good idea.

Home treatment starts with warm compresses. Use a clean washcloth, soak it in hot water, and hold it against the place many times a day. Soon after to keep the bacteria from spreading, you might want to wash the area gently with a mild antibacterial soap. You could also use warm potatoes, heated eye pillows, and heated gel packs, but make sure to verify the temperature before you apply the compress to your eye. You can also deal with a stye with freshly used tea bags, which tend to hold heat for a while.

A stye in the eyelid can be a pain and unsightly. Treating a stye inside the eyelid is not hard, and normally can be done at home. It is important to remember to go to the physician if the stye is still swollen and sore after ten days.

If a stye does not go away, or it turns into very large and painful, you may possibly need to go to a physician for treatment. The physician may prescribe antibiotic ointment to kill the bacteria, although you might need to carry on with the warm compresses. Doctors can also drain sties with a needle, if necessary.