Do you sometimes get itchy, tender, red swollen bumps around your eye area? These bumps may know as styes. Styes can be painful and irritating but you can take steps at home to treat them.
Below are few home remedies that will help you get rid of styes fast and reduce swelling, discomfort, and itchiness that often accompany styes.
Clean your eyelids
The first and the most important step is to clean your eyelids with baby shampoo which is gentle and doesn’t burn the eyes. Use tear-free baby shampoo on a soft cloth or cotton ball. Then rinse your eyelids with warm water and gently pat them dry.
Stop wearing makeup or lenses
Makeup can cover the healing process of styes which is why it is suggested to stop wearing makeup. Also, rather than using contact lenses wear glasses until the stye heal.
Apply warm cloth
You can speed up the healing of the styes by applying a warm cloth to them. Take a clean washcloth and soak it in hot water. Squeeze out all the water and hold the cloth to your eyelid for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat the steps 3 to 5 times a day.
Massage
Gently massage your eyelids with clean and sanitized hands. This will ease the pain and will drain the fluids present in the stye.
Other important things to keep in mind:
- Always wash your hands before touching your stye
- Throw away old makeup and don’t share makeup with anyone else
- Avoid rubbing your eyes if they are itchy
- Avoid sharing towels with someone who has a stye
These home remedies will reduce the styes within 3 to 5 days. But if the swelling doesn’t go down after 2 to 3 days, you need to go see your doctor immediately to avoid any serious health issues.
