How to get rid of stye on bottom eyelid fast

What is a stye?

Cross-sectional view of eyelid margin with stye (Image source: Manhattan Eye Specialists)

A stye or hordeolum is a red bump, inside (internal) or outside (external) of your eyelid. It looks like a pimple and can be painful. Similar to a pimple forming on our face, a stye occurs when one or more of the meibomian glands (glands along the margin of your eyelid) are clogged. A stye can occur on either the upper or lower eyelid or both eyelids. A stye can also develop on just one eye or both eyes at the same time. A stye may be a one-off occurrence or it may come back. This article will discuss how to get rid of a stye on the eyelid fast.

How to get rid of a stye on my eyelid?

Depending on the cause, a stye can burst and resolve on its own within a few days. Here are some treatment options for a stye.

Warm compress and eyelid scrub

A cleaning regime for your eyelids and eyelid glands will help drain the pus and is a simple home remedy that can help get rid of a stye. Wash your hands before following this regime. Here are some simple steps to follow:

Soak a clean washcloth in lukewarm water and place it over your eyelids for 10 to 15 minutes at a time and repeat this 3 to 5 times daily. The warm compress opens and drains clogged oil glands.
Make a mixture of mild baby shampoo and warm water (recommended ratio of mild baby shampoo to water is 1:8). Use a clean cotton swab to gently wipe the mixture along the base of your eyelashes, for about 30 seconds per eye, while keeping your eyes closed.

Alternatively, you may purchase over-the-counter lid scrubs from your pharmacy or drugstore to clean your eyelids.

Warm compress (Image source: The Derm Review)

Antibiotic ointment

If the clogged gland along your eyelid margin becomes infected, your eye care professional may prescribe an antibiotic ointment to help combat bacteria causing the infection.

Surgery

Your eye care professional may recommend surgery if the stye is recurring and/or interfering with your vision. The procedure is performed by an ophthalmologist in their clinic as an outpatient procedure

The ophthalmologist will administer a local anaesthetic to numb the area. In cases of a recurring stye, a biopsy might be performed to identify the type of bacteria causing the recurring stye and/or if there is any underlying eye disease triggering the recurrence.

Consult an eye care professional

You should seek a consult with an ophthalmologist if:

The stye does not get better after a few days and/or if it gets worse
Your eye and/or eyelid is painful, red and/or swollen
It is interfering with your vision

Stye on the lower eyelid (Image source: Cleveland Clinic)

Subtle changes may go unnoticed and only be picked up by a trained professional, making regular comprehensive eye checks all the more important for timely identification and possible interventions.

Documenting by taking a picture of the stye when it first started and any changes that develop along the way will aid the health and/or eye care professional in tracking progression, diagnosing and selecting the most suitable treatment option for your stye.

Tips to get rid of a stye on the eyelid fast

To prevent further irritation, avoid using any eye makeup when you have a stye
Do not wear contact lenses when you have a stye. After it has healed, clean and disinfect your contact lenses thoroughly before inserting them into your eyes again. Alternatively, you may discard the pair and open a fresh one.
Avoid squeezing the stye, as that could spread the infection into your eyelid.

A stye is a tender bump that forms on your eyelid.

Although most styes go away on their own within 1-2 weeks, sometimes you want the uncomfortable, painful bump to disappear sooner.

While a stye will usually take time to resolve on its own, home remedies may encourage a stye to drain and speed up recovery time.

But don’t trust just any blog or Tiktok video.

Trying to pop a stye can make the infection worse or cause it to spread.

Instead, read on to learn what a stye is, what causes it, and both home remedies and medical treatments for a stye.

I’ll also explain how to prevent this condition and when to see a doctor or health care professional about a stye.

What Is a Stye

A stye is a red, painful lump on the edge of the eyelid.

It forms when bacteria enter a clogged oil gland or hair follicle and grow, causing an infection.

In medical terms, a stye is called a hordeolum.

There are two kinds of styes: external and internal.

External stye

An external stye (external hordeolum) is visible because it occurs when a gland at the base of an eyelash becomes infected.

This is the most common type of stye.

Internal stye

An internal stye (internal hordeolum) is an infection of the oil glands that keep the eyeball moist.

This type of stye isn’t always visible because it triggers inflammation on the inside of the eyelid.

What Causes a Stye?

Styes develop when a hair follicle or eyelid oil gland becomes blocked or clogged, and then bacteria invade and infect the area.

Dirt, debris, old makeup, or dead skin cells can clog hair follicles and eyelid glands.

For this reason, people with poor eyelid hygiene, who wear contact lenses incorrectly, or who share towels or cosmetic products have a higher risk of developing styes.

Most styes are caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, which naturally lives on the skin and inside the nose.

Under normal circumstances, this bacteria is harmless.

But when it gets inside a clogged eyelash follicle or gland, it can cause inflammation of the eyelids and, eventually, a stye.

Will a Stye Go Away on Its Own?

Styes may be uncomfortable and unsightly, but most heal on their own or with the help of simple home treatments.

If a stye doesn’t improve after about two weeks of at-home care or if a stye worsens, contact a healthcare provider.

How to Treat a Stye at Home

Although most styes heal without intervention, some home remedies may help reduce swelling, manage pain, and encourage the healing process.

Whatever you do, never pop, squeeze, or try to rupture a stye.

Doing so can cause the infection to worsen or spread. Also try to avoid wearing contact lenses or makeup when you have a stye.

Use a warm compress

The heat and moisture of a warm compress encourage a stye to drain.

To start, soak a clean washcloth in warm water, then squeeze out any excess water.

Place this warm washcloth over the affected eye for 10-15 minutes at a time.

Do this up to 3-5 times a day.

Clean eyelids

Gently cleaning the eyelids may help remove blockages and excess eye discharge.

Dilute tear-free baby shampoo with water and gently massage it on the surface of the stye.

Rinse and dry with a clean cloth.

Medical Treatments for a Stye

If a stye lasts for more than two weeks or worsens, contact a healthcare provider so they can examine it.

If they determine it is a stye, they may suggest one or more of the following medical treatments.

Antibiotics

Two types of antibiotics help treat styes:

Antibiotic eye ointment: Topical antibiotic cream applied directly to the eyelid helps fight the bacterial infection. This is the primary treatment.

Oral antibiotics: Antibiotic pills or tablets can help stop the bacteria from spreading to other parts of the body. Oral antibiotics are almost never needed for a stye unless there is another associated infection.

Steroid injection

A steroid injection can help reduce the inflammation and pain of a stye.

An ophthalmologist or other specialist injects steroid medicine into the center of the stye to reduce inflammation.

Stye surgery

A stye that doesn’t resolve with other treatment may require minor, in-office surgery.

For this, the healthcare provider first numbs the eyelid with a local anesthetic.

Then they make a small incision to allow the stye to drain and heal.

This is typically only performed in severe cases by an ophthalmologist or oculoplastic surgery specialist.

Stye Prevention

The best way to reduce the risk of styes is to practice good hygiene:

Refrain from touching your face or rubbing your eyes without first washing your hands.

Wash your face and eyelids before bed, making sure to fully remove any makeup.

Replace makeup products every 2-3 months, especially eye makeup.

Wash your hands well before handling contact lenses. Also disinfect the lenses and replace them per your eye doctor’s directions.

When to See a Doctor

Most styes heal on their own or with the help of home remedies in about 1-2 weeks.

If a stye lasts longer or appears to worsen, see your doctor or health care provider.

They can examine your eye, make an accurate diagnosis, and recommend medical and home treatments.

Other symptoms that require medical intervention include:

Severely swollen eyelids
Blisters or open sores on your eyelids
Eyelids that are hot to the touch
Vision changes

How K Health Can Help

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get rid of a stye in 5 minutes?

You cannot get rid of a stye in 5 minutes. Styes are caused by bacterial infections and a clogged gland and take 1-2 weeks to fully heal. That said, you can try to speed up the healing process by gently cleaning the surface of the stye or applying warm compresses or washcloths to your infected eye. Never squeeze or pop a stye, as that can lead to more severe infections.

What causes a stye in your eye?

A stye develops when an oil gland in the eyelid or a hair follicle becomes blocked. Once clogged, normally harmless bacteria on the skin and nose can enter the area and grow into a stye.

How long does a stye last for?

Most styes last 1-2 weeks before healing on their own. In rare cases when a stye is more stubborn, it may require medical treatments to heal. If you have a stye for more than two weeks and it isn’t showing any signs of healing, make a doctor’s appointment.

Are eye styes caused by stress?

Stress can impact your immune system, which can increase your risk for many kinds of infections, including styes.. Other health conditions that increase the risk of styes include blepharitis, rosacea, diabetes, very high cholesterol, and seborrheic dermatitis.

K Health articles are all written and reviewed by MDs, PhDs, NPs, or PharmDs and are for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute and should not be relied on for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.

What causes a stye on the bottom eyelid?

A stye is caused by an infection of oil glands in the eyelid. The bacterium staphylococcus is commonly responsible for most of these infections.

How do you get rid of a stye in 5 minutes?

How do you treat a stye on the bottom eyelid?

How is a stye treated?.

Use warm compresses. Apply a warm washcloth to the eyelid for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, from three to five times per day. ... .

Clean eyelids. Gently wipe away eye discharge with a mild soapy solution made from half baby shampoo and half water..

How long does a stye under the eyelid last?

Styes should be treated quickly and may resolve within 7 to 10 days in some cases. If not treated quickly, it can last indefinitely. Some at-home treatments you can try include: Use a warm compress on the affected area.