Have you ever been greeted with a huge puss-filled bump right on your eyelid in the morning? If you haven’t, don't be alarmed when you see this in the future—it’s not a pimple that decided to cling on to your eye, it’s just a stye.
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What is a stye?
A stye is a harmless red bump that forms at the edge of your eyelid, or inside your waterline, and it happens when a gland is blocked by dead skin, dirt, or oil build-up. Other symptoms that are associated with styes include inflammation, soreness, itchiness, and increased tear production. It can also be painful, but there is nothing to worry about as it will go away on its own in seven to ten days.
A week of harbouring a stye may not seem that bad, unless you have to actually go out in the public. A simple stye shouldn't ruin your confidence, ideally, but we get why you’d like to get rid of it sooner than later. So, here are some simple tips that will help you coax your stye into saying goodbye.
Natural remedies
A hot compress is the easiest and best way to heal your stye quickly. Take any clean piece of cloth or a soft hand towel, and soak it in hot water. Squeeze the cloth until it’s damp and make sure it’s not too hot before putting it on the affected area. Cover your eye with the hot cloth for around 5 to 10 minutes, and repeat the process three to four times throughout the day.
You can also try using a warm tea bag, as it has anti-inflammatory properties that could help with the healing process.
Experts at Healthline also suggest massaging your eyes to motivate drainage of the puss. Remember, never squeeze, pop, or touch the stye. Instead, massage the surrounding areas with a clean hand. Once the puss comes out, clean the area immediately to stop the bacteria from spreading, and do not touch the wound while it’s healing.
