How to Treat a Stye?

This article is about various natural remedies to treat a Stye, but let’s first learn about the infection and its causes. The stye is a small lump on the edge of the eyelid. It is an infection caused by Staphylococcus Bacteria, where the lump is filled with puss. This is a most common type of infection that affects every individual once or twice in their life. Stye infection usually appears on the surface, but the root cause is deep within the eyelid.

Types of Stye Infection

An external stye starts with a small spot next to the eyelash. Slowly turning red, painful and appears like a swollen bump on the eyelid. The infection may last for several days. Most of the external styes are self-limiting and short-lived. They heal quickly in comparison to internal styes.

An internal stye also appears like a bump on the outside of the eyelid, but there is no white head developed on the surface, instead, only redness and swelling is visible. After healing, it also leaves a small fluid filled cyst that needs to be drained and cleaned.

Often styes are confused with Chalazion. But Chalazion is not an infection, instead, it is a small bump that is painless and usually develops a bit away from the edge of the eyelid unlike a stye. A chalazion is known as a local tissue reaction to oily glandular secretions that couldn’t reach the surface of the skin because of the blockage caused by the debris in the ducts. Both the conditions are harmless and do not affect the eyesight or the eyeball in any way.

Causes of Stye

The bacteria responsible for a Stye infection are Staphylococcus which often thrives on the skin surface. Our bodies, especially the outer surface of the skin area home for many friendly bacteria. When the conditions of the skin are apt for the bacteria, they feed on the dead skin cells causing pimples, cysts, and Styes.

Symptoms of Stye

• Swelling
• Bump
• Pain
• Tenderness
• Inflammation
• Fluid discharge.
• Recurrent styes.
• Difficulty in blinking.
• Sensitivity to light.

Natural Remedies to Treat a Stye

Styes usually subside on their own in a week or two. However, there are a few natural home remedies that can help to treat a stye and initiate the healing process. It also helps to give relief from pain and inflammation.

1.) Warm Compress to Treat a Stye

Applying a warm compress to the stye affected eyelid is one of the best-known remedies. The heat from the compress helps to stimulate the circulation of the area and speed up the healing process. It also drains out the pus from the bump and cures infection.

DIY-

• Soak a clean washcloth in hot water.
• Wring out excess water and place the cloth on the affected eye.
• Keep it in the eye for 5-8 minutes.
• Repeat the remedy 3-4 times a day until the stye is drained out.
• Wipe the area with a disinfectant and reapply the compress until the stye is completely drained.

2.) Green Tea to Treat a Stye

Green tea is rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds that help to reduce the irritation and pain caused due to a stye infection. The presence of Tannins is an added benefit that helps to treat a stye quickly. It also prevents from recurrent infection.

DIY-

• Soak a green tea bag in warm water.
• Remove and squeeze excess water.
• Place the tea bag on the affected eye.
• Keep it for a few minutes.
• Repeat the remedy regularly until the infection is cured.
• This will help to reduce the size of the stye and get rid of the pain.

3.) Coriander Seeds to Treat a Stye

Coriander is a remedy touted for centuries to treat a stye infection. Due to being rich in anti-inflammatory properties, coriander seeds help to reduce the burning sensation and swelling caused due to a stye infection, thereby making you feel better within a few days.

DIY-

• Mix a teaspoon of coriander seeds in a cup of boiling water.
• Allow the water to cool down at room temperature.
• Strain the water to separate the seed particles.
• Use the water as an eye wash regularly.
• Repeat the remedy twice or thrice daily to get rid of infection and pain.

4.) Turmeric to Treat a Stye

Turmeric has natural anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help to treat a stye quickly and effectively. Regular application of turmeric can reduce the pain and swelling caused due to infection.

DIY-

• Prepare a paste of turmeric powder and rose-water.
• Apply to the affected eye to treat a stye.
• Alternatively, you can also add a teaspoon of turmeric powder to a glass of hot milk.
• Drink it daily before going to bed to cure the infection.
• You can also prepare a turmeric eye wash.
• Boil a tablespoon of turmeric powder in two cups of water.
• Reduce the mixture in half.
• Now, strain the water through a cheesecloth to eliminate the turmeric particles.
• Wash your eyes with this solution twice or thrice daily.
• These remedies will initiate the healing process and relieve pain.

5.) Aloe Vera for a Stye Infection

Aloe vera is a popular natural remedy to soothe inflammation and pain caused due to infection. It has many anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help to treat a stye quickly.

DIY-

• Scoop out the gel from a fresh aloe vera leaf.
• Apply the gel to the affected eye.
• Leave it for 20 minutes and then wash off with water.
• Repeat the remedy to get rid of the infection faster.

6.) Castor Oil to Treat a Stye

Castor oil has Ricinoleic acid that acts as an anti-inflammatory agent for a stye infection. This makes castor oil an effective natural remedy to treat a stye.

DIY-

• Apply castor oil to the affected eyelid.
• Now, use a warm compress to enhance the heat of castor oil.
• This will help to drain out the pus from the bump.
• Repeat the remedy twice daily to get effective results.

7.) Guava Leaves to Treat a Stye

Guava has natural healing powers that make it an effective home remedy to treat a stye. The leaves of guava possess anti-inflammatory properties that are helpful in eliminating swelling and inflammation from the eyelid, thus, curing the infection quickly.

DIY-

• Wash a few guava leaves in warm water.
• Soak a washcloth in hot water and place the guava leaves on it.
• Wrap and use it as a warm compress.
• You can also place a warm guava leave to the affected eye.
• Leave it to work for about 5 minutes.
• Repeat the remedy twice regularly to get effective results.

8.) Potatoes to Treat a Stye

Another common natural ingredient to treat a stye infection is Potatoes. Being rich in astringent properties, potatoes help to contract the tissues and reduce inflammation.

DIY-

• Grate a raw peeled potato and extract the juice.
• Soak a cotton swab and apply it to affected eyelid.
• Alternatively, you can also wrap the grated potato in the cheese cloth.
• Place it on the affected area for 5-10 minutes.
• Repeat the remedy thrice daily to get effective results.

9.) Cloves to Get Rid of a Stye

Cloves work as a natural painkiller for the inflamed eye. They also prevent the spread of eye infections due to the natural antibacterial qualities of clove.

DIY-

• Soak 5-6 cloves in a glass of water for 10 minutes.
• Now, strain the water and soak a clean washcloth in it.
• Wring out excess water and place it on the affected area.
• Let it stay for a few minutes.
• Follow the remedy regularly to get effective results and treat a stye.

10.) Garlic to Treat a Stye

Garlic is an age-old remedy to cure various infections and stye is one among those infections. The natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of garlic help to kill the bacteria and effectively treat a stye infection.

DIY-

• Peel a garlic clove and place directly on the affected area.
• Repeatedly touch the garlic clove to the affected eyelid.
• Alternatively, you can also heat a garlic clove and wrap it in a washcloth.
• Use it as a hot compress for the affected area.
• This will help to treat a stye quickly.
• Follow the procedure regularly until the bump is drained and cured.