Have you woke up with a strange annoyance and when you look in the mirror the world has collapsed? Precisely today that you have that meeting or that important appointment and that lump appears in your eye. Do not be alarmed, there are very simple methods that allow you to heal a stye quickly.
Stye is a type of bacterial eye infection that occurs at the base of the eyelashes caused by staph bacteria.
They arise due to the inflammation of certain sebaceous glands that are located at the base of the eyelashes or on the eyelids. They manifest as small red bumps that appear on the lash line, in the inner corner of the eye, or on the eyelid.
Other causes can be blepharitis (chronic inflammation of the eye), trichiasis (alteration in the growth direction of the eyelashes) or scar ectropion (eversion of the eyelid outwards), also to skin diseases such as acne or rosacea and others like hormonal changes, stress.
Although it is not usually serious, it can cause discomfort such as itching, a sensation of a foreign body and pain.
The healing process for styes can take up to 20 days, but usually after two weeks the grain begins to drain spontaneously.
If it does not resolve and continues to persist over time, it may be an acute internal stye with a tendency to become chronic and become a cyst.
Main symptoms of styes
The main symptoms of styes are:
- Discomfort when blinking, gritty sensation in the eye.
- Small, irritated bump on or at the base of the eyelid.
- Redness in the affected area and swelling and pain in the eyelid.
- Tingling, stinging, burning, or pain in the affected area.
- Sensitivity to light.
- Bleary eyes (blemishes appear after short periods of time).
- Irritation and constant tearing and mucous secretions from the affected eye.
- Blurred vision and discomfort when blinking.
- Appearance of a small yellowish or reddish point similar to a grain about to drain.
- Presence of a small yellowish spot in the center of the stye.
Types of stye
Then the next step is to identify the type of stye you have. It is very easy to classify it, since it is related to the area of the eyelid where it is located. Among them we can find:
- External stye. Red swelling at the edge of the eyelid that usually has a yellowish pimple-like spot. It tends to drain spontaneously and heal in a short time.
- Internal stye or chalazion. Abscess that is located far from the edge of the eyelid and usually presents a reddish point similar to a pimple. It takes longer to drain and heal than the external one, if positive changes do not occur in the first days, it is recommended to go to the doctor.
In some of these cases, the stye does not drain enough and leaves behind a ball of hardened fat, which must be surgically removed or drained through an incision with a scalpel.
To differentiate a stye from a chalazion remember that:
- Unlike the stye, the chalazion does not hurt.
- Chalazions are usually larger than styes. If they grow too large, they can even make vision difficult.
- Styes usually appear inside the eyelid and not at the edge.
- Chalazions progress more slowly than styes. They form gradually and it can take months for them to disappear.
- Both tend to disappear over time, except for some types of chalazions that do not go away and may require surgery to remove them.
8 effective remedies to cure a stye
Although there are many medical treatments for stye, it is always better and more advisable to go to natural and home remedies. Here we leave you a series of easy and useful tricks to eliminate those uncomfortable nodules.
Method 1. Water
This is one of the most used treatments.
Boil a liter of water and let it cool until lukewarm. Moisten a clean cloth with this water and place it on the affected eyelid for 10 minutes, you must moisten the cloth again each time it cools down. This process will help drain the pus from the stye. Repeat this process four times a day. Water not only calms pain and inflammation, it also speeds up the healing process. Press lightly gently, just enough to hold the compress against the eye.
Method 2. Coriander
Coriander contains essential oil compounds, six types of acids (including ascorbic acid, known as vitamin C), minerals and vitamins, each of which has medicinal properties that help reduce inflammation.
It is said to be one of the most effective natural remedies to get rid of styes. Boil a teaspoon of coriander seeds in a cup of water and wait a minute after it reaches a boil. Let the solution cool, strain it, and use it to cleanse the affected eye three times a day.
Method 3. Parsley
A few fresh parsley leaves in a bowl of boiling water will help reduce inflammation and improve eyelid sensitivity.
Let the solution sit, then dip a clean cloth into it and use it as a compress until cool. Better do it in the morning and before going to bed at night.
Method 4. Chamomile
This herb has anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antibacterial, and sedative properties.
Add a handful of chamomile leaves to two cups of boiling water. Strain the solution and let it cool, and when it is warm, moisten a clean cloth in it and place it on the affected eye for 10 minutes twice a day.
Method 5. Turmeric
Turmeric, in addition to being used as a spice in cooking, is often used as a medicinal plant due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial properties.
Boil two cups of water with a teaspoon of turmeric powder until the liquid is reduced by half. Strain the solution through a cheesecloth to make it clean. Use an eyedropper to put 3 drops in your eyes two to three times each day.
Method 6. Aloe vera
Aloe vera is recognized around the world as a wonderful plant, as it offers a host of benefits.
Aloe is made up of countless nutrients, vitamins, minerals, proteins, polysaccharides, enzymes, and amino acids. It has great moisturizing properties, oxygenates and strengthens skin cells, which helps flexibility and rejuvenation. Cut the aloe vera leaf lengthwise and open in the center. Dip a cotton ball in the clear liquid that the plant secretes and gently wipe it over the affected eyelid in the morning and at night. Then rinse with chamomile or warm water. It also works for tired eyes, cataracts and all kinds of inflammation.
Method 7. Guava leaves
It is a plant well known for its great antiseptic, astringent and anthelmintic properties, since it has the ability to exterminate bacteria, fungi and amoebae that can be found in the body.
Using guava leaves is another very effective way to get relief from stye pain. All you need to do is heat the guava leaves and put them in a warm cloth. Then lay that cloth on the affected eye to quickly notice relief in case of burning.
Method 8. Cucumber
This vegetable is used in different aesthetic treatments because they help keep the skin healthy, relieve irritation and reduce inflammation.
Cucumber is refreshing and astringent, known to be very useful for face masks and styes. Cut a cucumber into slices and place them on the infected area to reduce inflammation and pain. Then rub gently with a damp cloth on the affected area.
Without a doubt, a stye is something annoying and undesirable that we all want to treat as soon as possible. Fortunately, now you can put these tips into practice to try and eliminate it without difficulties.
