Understanding a Stye and Its Treatment Methods: A Comprehensive Guideline
Going under the Gun with a Stye
Uh-oh! You're about to rock some eyeliner, but instead, you spot something pink and ouchy on your eyelid. Time to ditch the liner and grab a hot towel - you've got a stye.
Don't panic though, these eye-catching (pun intended) bumps are often harmless and can be treated at home. If your pesky bump is causing some serious worry, here are some tips to help.
What in the Wide Wide World is a Stye?
"A stye, mate, is the most common type of eyelid bump," says Dr. Thellea Leveque, an eye specialist who treats patients at the Eye Institute at Harborview Medical Center and the Eye Center at UW Medical Center - Montlake.
Styes are like catch-all categories for bumps caused by blocked oil glands in your eyelid or the eyelid margin, the rim where your eyelashes emerge. These bumps bear similarities to pimples and can be either painless or scream like a banshee. They can drain fluid and cause inflammation.
Unlike other eyelid bumps, such as cysts, styes tend to surface quickly and bring on dry eye symptoms, like light sensitivity and itchiness.
Different types of eyelid bumps that often end up as styes include hordeolum and chalazion.
A hordeolum starts at the base of your eyelash, and an internal hordeolum is one that forms inside your eyelid. Larger, deeper bumps that form further from the edge of your eyelid are called chalazions.
If you're dealing with a painless bump, it might not be a stye, so best to check with your doc.
What's the Lowdown on Styes?
Styes are born when bacteria that reside on your skin get caged up in the glands on your eyelids. When you rub your peepers, you can spread these bacteria and spark an infection.
"Screen addiction, eye rubbing, dry peepers, contaminated makeup, and certain skin types all could be stye culprits," Leveque says. A potential contributing factor is a skin condition called rosacea, which causes red bumps on your mug and peepers.
How do I Deal with a Stye?
Most styes and eyelid bumps heal on their own within a few days to a week. But while you're waiting, here are some pain management options.
First off, steer clear of touching or squeezing the bump, as this will cause more irritation and impose the risk of spreading the infection.
Leveque suggests using a warm, damp compress on your peepers for ten minutes, up to five times a day. This will help the fluid drain naturally.
You can also wash your face with warm water and soap, but stick to plain products until the skin heals. Over-the-counter painkillers can help reduce swelling and offer pain relief.
When to Alert the Medics?
If a stye lingers for more than a couple weeks, keeps growing, or the redness spreads to the rest of your eyelid or eyeball, it's high time for a checkup.
"In general, chat with your ophthalmologist regarding any eye redness, light sensitivity, vision loss, or pain," Leveque says.
Depending on how the stye has unfolded, your doc will treat it with topical or oral antibiotics, an injection, or in some cases, by draining the stye. They'll also monitor the bump for more serious issues, like eyelid cancer.
The good news is most styes aren't serious enough to warrant treatment like this. Just leave the stye alone, and it'll soon be a thing of the past.
If you're interested in health-and-wellness news, you might find it beneficial to know that styes, a common type of eyelid bump, can cause discomfort and affect your daily routine. Mental-health aside, managing a stye can involve using a warm compress, adopting good skin-care practices, and avoiding makeup until it heals. It's essential to know when to consult a professional, such as an eye specialist, as a persistent stye could indicate more serious health issues.
