Do you have an eye stye? Are you wondering how to get rid of this stye and make your eyes free from this unwanted addition? Then scroll down to know all about styes and how to get rid of them quickly and effectively in natural ways.
Eye stye (sty or hordeolum) is a small red, painful lump that occurs on the eyelid or inside the eyelid or around the eye, which is harmless but makes us feel bad. Sometimes, these styes appear near the edge of the eyelid.
A stye may look like a pimple filled with pus and we all know that pimples are developed due to the clogged and irritated skin glands and in the same way, stye occurs when the eyelid gland gets clogged and infected with dead skin cells or oil or the bacteria linked with stye formation is Staphylococcus.
The eye styes are not contagious and most of the people get confused with chalazion (eyelid cyst) with a stye. The difference is that eye stye is painful but chalazion does not cause pain as your symptom. A chalazion is larger than typical stye. The main difference is that chalazion is having a hard lump on the inside side of the eyelid but not having pain.
Most of the time, this eye stye will go away on its own without any specific treatment. In certain cases, people may suffer from more than one sty at a time and it develops either on the outer edge of the eyelid or on the inner region. Now let’s have a look at the symptoms and causes of this eye styes.
Signs and Symptoms of Eye Sty:
Here we are explaining you some of the signs and symptoms of an eye stye.
- Eye swelling
- Blurred vision
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Pain in the eyes (eyelid)
- Burning sensation
- Eye tenderness and redness
- Pus-filled red bumps (or) mucus discharge
- Difficulty blinking
- Watering of the eye
- Itchy feeling around the eye
- Feel of something in your eye
Causes of Eye Stye:
- Dehydration
- Improper skin and eye care like dirt or makeup or other impurities blocking or infecting the oil gland.
- Nutritional deficiencies due to poor diet
- Sleep deprivation
- Blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelash follicles)
- Stress
- Hormonal imbalances
Although, there are many over the counter and medications available for treating these eye sties but choosing natural remedies will help you in a treating this eye stye effectively.
Home Remedies to Get Rid of Eye Stye:
Now, let’s know how to get relief from a stye naturally with simple and inexpensive natural remedies at your home.
Remedy – 1: (Warm Compress)
The heat generated by placing a warm compress on the affected eye area will help to increase the blood circulation and thus enhance the rupture to drain out the pus from the sty (bumps). It reduces the pain, swelling, and puffiness of the eyelid.
What you need:
- Clean towel
- Hot water
What you have to do:
- Take a clean towel and dip it in a bowl filled with hot water.
- Wring out the cloth to remove excess water.
- Then close your eyes to place this warm compress on the affected eye stye area.
- Let it sit for about 5 – 7 minutes and remove it for another 3 – 4 minutes.
- Repeat the same action for 3 – 4 times till the pus is released.
- Wipe away the pus and reapply the compress till the pus has cleared completely.
Remedy – 2: (Green Tea)
The natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of green tea will help to reduce the pain and inflammation caused due to eye stye. Also, the tannic acid along with other essential nutrients in green tea will help to keep the infection at bay and thus promote quick healing.
What you need:
- Green tea bag – 1
- Warm water – 1 cup
What you have to do:
- Take a green tea bag and dip it warm water for a few minutes.
- After that, remove and squeeze the tea bag to remove excess water.
- Then close your eyes to place this moist tea bag over the affected eyelid.
- Press it gently and hold it for about 5 – 7 minutes.
- Take out the tea bag and continue this moist tea bag application for a few times daily until the eye sty has reduced in size along with pain and swelling.
Note: Also, you can use black tea bags or any herbal tea bags instead of this green tea.
Remedy – 3: (Coriander Seeds)
Coriander seeds possess excellent anti-inflammatory properties that help you in getting rid of swelling, redness, and pain in the eyelid area.
What you need:
- Coriander seeds – 1 teaspoon
- Water – 1 cup
- Saucepan
What you have to do:
- Pour coriander seeds and water in a saucepan and place it on the heat.
- Bring it to a boil and turn off the heat.
- Allow this coriander infused water to cool down for a few minutes.
- Strain this water and use it to rinse the affected eye area.
- Repeat this coriander water rinsing for 2 – 3 times daily until you get a complete relief from this eye stye.
Note: Or use parsley which acts as a purifying agent that helps to bring out the impurities and toxins to aid in speedy recovery. Simply take a handful of parsley leaves and boil it in water for 10 minutes. Let it cool down for a few minutes and dip a cloth in this water to place it over the closed lid of the affected eye. Wash it off after 15 minutes. Do it once daily to get rid of the problem.
Remedy – 4: (Turmeric)
Turmeric contains an excellent compound called curcumin that exhibits antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which help you to get a quick relief from the eye stye. It also removes the infection causing elements.
Regular follow of this turmeric will reduce the pain, swelling, and inflammation. here are a few ways of using turmeric for eye stye.
Method – 1: (Turmeric Water)
What you need:
- Turmeric powder – 1 tablespoon
- Water – 2 cups
- Cheesecloth
- Saucepan
What you have to do:
- Pour turmeric and water in a saucepan and place it on the heat.
- Boil it for a few minutes until the turmeric water is reduced to half of the quantity.
- After that, turn off the heat and let the water cool for a few minutes.
- Strain the water through a cheesecloth and use this turmeric water to rinse the eye affected area.
- Repeat the same process for 2 – 3 times daily until you get relief from the eye stye.
Method – 2: (Turmeric Milk)
Drinking turmeric milk for once daily will help to strengthen your immune system and speed up the healing process.
What you need:
- Turmeric powder – 1 teaspoon
- Warm milk – 1 cup
What you have to do:
- Pour turmeric powder in warm milk and stir well.
- Drink this warm turmeric milk at night before bedtime.
- Continue the intake of this warm turmeric milk daily till you get relief from the problem.
Remedy – 5: (Baby Shampoo)
We already know that eye stye occurs due to improper cleaning of eyes regularly. So, it’s essential to keep the eyes clean and free from dust, dirt and other irritants. To perform this cleaning process, baby shampoo will work well and relieves you from this eye sty and its symptoms.
What you need:
- Baby shampoo
- Warm water – 1 cup
- Cotton ball
What you have to do:
- Pour a few drops of mild baby shampoo in warm water and stir well until the shampoo is diluted completely.
- Then soak a clean cotton ball in this diluted baby shampoo mix.
- Wring out the ball and close your eyes.
- Use the cotton ball to rinse the eyelid area and all over the eye areas.
- After that, rinse the area with warm water.
- Finally, apply a clean warm compress on the affected area for 5 – 7 minutes.
- Continue doing the same for a few times daily till the sty disappeared completely on the eye area.
Remedy – 6: (Aloe Vera)
Being rich in antibacterial, antimicrobial, skin – soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, aloe vera help you in reducing the redness, inflammation, swelling, and pain caused by this eye stye. It soothes the skin and thereby speeds up the healing process.
What you need:
- Aloe vera leaf
- Lukewarm water
What you have to do:
- Take a fresh aloe vera leaf and cut it to squeeze out its gel.
- Apply this fresh aloe vera gel on the infected eyelid and massage gently for a couple of minutes.
- Leave it for about 20 – 30 minutes and wash the aloe vera applied eye areas with lukewarm water.
- Pat dry the eye area and repeat the process for a few times daily until you get rid of eye stye.
Remedy – 7: (Castor Oil)
The ricinoleic acid in castor oil acts as an anti-inflammatory that helps you in reducing the pain and inflammation caused by eye stye.
What you need:
- Castor oil
- Baby shampoo
- Warm water
- Clean cloth
- Cotton swab
What you have to do:
- First of all, rinse the affected eye area with a mild baby shampoo and warm water.
- Then apply a warm compress (clean cloth dipped in hot water) on the affected eyelid for about 5 – 7 minutes.
- After that, take out the cloth and apply castor oil on the affected eye area by using a cotton swab.
- Let it sit for few hours to overnight to reduce the bump on the edge of the eyelash.
- Do the same process for twice daily till you get relief from the pain, swelling, and irritation of the eyelid.
Remedy – 8: (Guava Leaves)
Guava leaves contain some natural healing powers that help you in getting rid of eye sties. It possesses antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that eliminate the redness, pain, and swelling of the affected eyelid.
What you need:
- Guava leaves – 2 to 4
- Clean cloth
- Hot water
What to do:
- Take fresh guava leaves and rinse it off in hot water.
- Then soak a clean cloth in a bowl of hot water and wring out to remove the excess water.
- Now place these clean guava leaves on the warm cloth and wrap it.
- Let it cool down and take a leaf from this cloth.
- Apply the leaf on the affected eye area and wait for about 5 – 7 minutes.
- Continue doing the same process for 3 – 4 times daily with the remaining guava leaves.
Remedy – 9: (Potato)
Putting something which is cool and refreshing on your eyelids will definitely make the stye less bothersome. The astringent and anti-inflammatory properties of raw potato will help to contract the tissues and thus reduces the skin irritations.
The starch content of potato will help a lot in reducing the pain, swelling, and inflammation on the affected eye area.
What you need:
- Potato – 1 medium sized
- Cheesecloth
- Water
What you have to do:
- Take a potato and grate it thoroughly.
- Wrap this grated potato in a cheesecloth and place this cloth on the affected area.
- Leave it for about 5 – 10 minutes and rinse off the area with water.
- Continue doing the same process for 2 – 3 times daily till you get a complete relief from the problem.
Note: Or simply place cold potato or cucumber slices on the eyes to reduce the irritation and inflammation.
Remedy – 10: (Cloves)
Cloves act as a pain reliever and thereby reduce the skin irritation which makes it as an effective remedy for sties. This will enhance the recovery process and also reduce the risk of getting eye infections due to its antibacterial property.
What you need:
- Cloves – 5 to 6
- Water – 1 glass
- Clean cloth
What you have to do:
- Take the cloves and soak in water for about 10 minutes.
- After that, strain the water and soak a clean cloth in this clove infused water for a couple of minutes.
- Wring out the cloth and hold it on the affected eyelid area for a few minutes,
- Regular follow up of this process for 2 – 3 times daily will help you to get rid of eye sties.
Tips and Precautions:
- If you didn’t find a relief after using these natural remedies then make sure to consult an eye specialist for proper diagnose and treatment.
- Also, other than following these natural remedies, you have to take some proper care and precautions to prevent spreading of these eye infection or sties.
- Never ever squeeze or pop an eye sty why because it spreads the infection to the other eye and worsen the symptoms.
- Always rinse your hands before and after treating eye sties or touching your eyes.
- Say no to eye makeup when you’re suffering from this eye stye. Also, don’t share your eye makeup or applicators to other why because it may spread the infection.
- Stop wearing contact lenses till you get complete relief from the eye stye.
- Try to keep your hands away from eyes when you’re suffering from eye sty or other eye infections.
- Rinse your face (especially eyes) with mild soap and lukewarm water thoroughly at night before bedtime so this will remove the makeup and other dirt from the face and prevent the chance of getting these eye problems. Try to rinse your eyes for 4 – 6 times daily to keep them clean and relaxed from the stress and strain.
- Garlic has so many hidden medicinal properties that help you in healing these skin or eye problems. Apply freshly extracted garlic juice around the eye styes infected areas and wash off after a few minutes.
- Onions will help to speed up the healing process. So, place a slice of onion over the infected eye for a few minutes to get rid of pain and swelling. But remember the usage of onion will burn your skin for a short time but it works effectively in treating eye stye.
- Even metals will work in relieving your eye stye. This is an old remedy that involves gently rubbing of metals (gold ring or iron nails) over the infected eye for a couple of minutes to get rid of sties.
- You can use some conventional treatments like antibiotic creams or eye drops after consulting your doctor.
- Consult your doctor immediately if your stye has gotten worse (or) experiencing pain or swelling (or) unable to open the eye completely (or) getting trouble in your eye vision (or) recurrence of these styes for proper diagnose and treatment.
Final Word:
Well, I can’t say that the eye stye will go away overnight with the usage of these natural remedies at home but believe me that these natural remedies for a stye will definitely help to encourage the speedy recovery without any side effects.
So, try these natural home remedies to get rid of eye stye. Do you know any other successful natural ways to clear these eye styes? Then share your experience with us in the below comments box.
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