10 Best Stye Remedies- The Best Informative Guide 2019
It’s not easy to get rid of a stye in a day or two. In this post, I share 10 best stye remedies that will help you deal with this condition. A stye doesn’t form overnight. Its accumulation of germs over many days which results in infection near the eyelid.
Basically, it’s a lump which looks like a pimple or a boil. Usually, it gets healed on its own. But the remedies mentioned in this post will speed up the process of recovery. If the pain gets worse or your eye gets swollen, it is best to see a doctor.
You don’t need to worry If you are suffering from an eye infection like a stye. It is not going to cause you any long term vision problems. In rare cases, it requires surgery to remove the lump from the eyelid. But this is only needed if the condition gets too severe.
Best Stye Remedies
1. Over-the-counter Analgesic/Painkillers
An analgesic or a painkiller is a drug that provides temporary relief from pain. It is fast acting and is generally considered safe when consumed within the recommended limit. Usually, you don’t need any medication to treat stye as it is expected to heal by itself. But in severe cases, a painkiller can help you carry on with your life without letting stye come in your way.
Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can be easily purchased over-the-counter from a drug store. Keep in mind that, a painkiller does not actually facilitate the healing of an eye infection. Its job is just to provide temporary respite from pain. However, there are some fool-proof methods to treat this condition. Read this article further to know more about best stye remedies.
2. Turmeric Paste
Originally found in Asia, Turmeric is a plant used in traditional medicine. Its roots are used in Ayurvedic medicine to reduce inflammation and pain. Turmeric powder is completely safe and has no side-effects.
Turmeric can be used to get rid of a stye. Turmeric powder is mixed with castor or coconut oil to form a thick paste. After disinfecting the eye with a cloth dipped in warm water, apply this paste in the area around the eyelids. Wash it after 15 minutes. This process can be repeated 4-5 times a day.
3. Chamomile Tea Bags
Chamomile tea tastes great and makes you feel relaxed and calm. Chamomile tea bags can also be used to improve your eye health. To treat stye, choose Chamomile tea bags that have a high amount of caffeine and tannins.
Dip the tea bag in warm water and gently place on the infected eye. Close your eyes during this process. Take it off after 10 minutes. Repeat this process 4-5 times a day and watch the stye getting healed slowly in a couple of days.
4. Apply a Warm Compresses
Stye can be treated by applying a warm compress to the infected eye for about 5 minutes. Don’t forget to wash your hands clean before touching the cloth or your eye. To get the best results, repeat this process at least 4-5 times a day.
Preparing a warm compress is not difficult. Just take a clean cloth and rinse it in warm water. A warm compress will kill harmful bacteria around your eyelids. It also softens the eyelashes and forces your eyes to eject the oily fluids that might facilitate the growth of bacteria and fungus.
5. Black Tea Bag
Black tea is considered as a natural antioxidant. It also has plenty of antibacterial properties that can help get rid of a stye. On its application, it quickly reduces inflammation in the eyelids. Black tea bags are one of the best stye remedies.
Begin with boiling some water along with a few black tea bags. Once it is boiled, let it cool off a bit until it gets lukewarm. Then take out a tea bag and gently place it on the infected eye. Keep it for 10 minutes then place a fresh tea bag on the same eye. Repeat this process 4-5 times.
6. Coconut Oil
Stye is an eye infection that can reappear from time to time. Proper hygiene needs to be maintained to make sure that it doesn’t come back. Along with the cleaning of the eye, disinfection is also necessary. And Coconut oil is one of the best for immunity. It contains lauric acid and caprylic acid which are well known to fight off yeast and bacteria and keep them away from your body.
Coconut oil can benefit for immunity when added to your diet. But it is most effective when applied directly to the infected eye. Another benefit of using Coconut as a remedy to stye is that it reduces inflammation and pain. A recent study from Payap University, Chiang Mai, Thailand have proven that coconut oil has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic properties.
7. Tea Tree Oil
Due to its antibacterial properties, Tea tree oil is one of the best stye remedies out there. It also reduces inflammation and swelling. Tea tree oil can be applied directly in and around the infected eye. Do not massage or press the stye. It might lead to more complications; a stye is not similar to a pimple or acne. So, just apply the tea tree oil and leave for a few minutes.
A recent study by The University of Western Australia has confirmed that Tea tree oil has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. They also checked its toxicity levels. Tea tree oil is completely safe and has absolutely no side effects.
8. Surgery
Surgery is the last option to get rid of an aching stye. Sometimes the condition of the eye can get severe due to infection. Especially, when the stye gets popped or it affects other parts of the eye. As stated earlier, the best way to treat a stye is by using home remedies like warm compression, application of essential oils and tea bags. Surgery is an option when any of these methods do not work.
Eye surgery is performed by an ophthalmologist. During the surgery, the patient is under a local anesthetic. In some cases, a minor eye infection like stye can grow into an abscess. An abscess is bigger in size relative to a stye. An abscess is removed by draining it in a sterile environment. This procedure is strictly performed by an ophthalmologist or an oculoplastic surgeon.
9. Cucumbers
Cucumbers have high water content and are generally used as a remedy for dark circles–around the eye region. A slice of cucumber, when placed on an infected eye can reduce inflammation and pain. It is recommended to freeze the cucumber by keeping it in a refrigerator for a few minutes.
The anti-inflammatory properties of cucumber will also quickly relieve the irritation caused due to stye. This helps you to continue to perform your day to day activities despite having an eye infection. Cucumber is rich in Vitamin K, C, and B1. These Vitamins are vital in the treatment of stye.
10. Antibiotics and Steroids
Antibiotics are used to treat a stye when there is an infection in the area around the eye. They are also prescribed after eye surgery. Erythromycin is an antibiotic ointment commonly used in the treatment of eye infection like stye. It kills the gram-positive organisms that are usually responsible for stye.
Neosporin is also another prescription-free ointment available in all drug stores. Moreover, it is not recommended to use generic triple antibiotics as they can cause a burning sensation in the eye. They are generally not beneficial for eye infections. Steroid injection is also helpful in the reduction of swelling and inflammation.
Conclusion
Some people might also develop multiple styes in their eyelids. And it might take months to get rid of them. In this case, it is better to consult an ophthalmologist. Otherwise, the home remedies listed in this post are good enough. It may take a few days to get rid of the stye but be patient and let it heal as naturally as possible. In some cases, it also takes more than a month.
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