Learn About Stye Treatments and Recovery Timeline

Understanding What a Stye Is and How It Forms

A stye, also called a hordeolum, is a small, painful bump that grows on or inside the eyelid. It forms when bacteria—usually Staphylococcus aureus—infect one of the tiny oil glands in the eyelid. These glands normally produce oil that keeps the eye lubricated and healthy. When bacteria block the gland opening, pressure builds up inside, creating swelling and infection.

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Styes can appear in two locations. An external stye forms on the outer edge of the eyelid, where eyelash follicles are found. You'll typically see a red, swollen bump with a white or yellow center that looks similar to a pimple. An internal stye develops inside the eyelid on the meibomian glands, which are larger oil glands. Internal styes may be harder to see but can feel just as uncomfortable.

Several factors increase your risk of developing a stye. Poor eyelid hygiene is a major contributor—not washing your hands before touching your eyes or not removing makeup before bed can allow bacteria to accumulate. Using old or contaminated eye makeup also introduces bacteria near the eyelid. People with certain skin conditions, like rosacea or seborrheic dermatitis, get styes more often. Additionally, touching or rubbing your eyes frequently, especially with unwashed hands, spreads bacteria to sensitive eye areas.

A stye typically starts as mild irritation or itching along the eyelid. Within a few hours to a day, redness and swelling develop. The area becomes tender and painful, especially when blinking or when the eyelid is touched. Some people notice their eye waters more than usual or feels like something is in it. Most styes reach their most uncomfortable point within 3 to 5 days of appearing.

Practical Takeaway: Recognizing early signs of a stye—itching, mild redness, or localized tenderness on the eyelid—allows you to begin care measures before pain and swelling become severe. Knowing your risk factors helps you avoid habits that may lead to stye formation.

At-Home Care Methods for Stye Treatment

Warm compresses are the most effective at-home treatment for styes. Heat increases blood flow to the infected area, helping your body's immune system fight the infection more effectively. It also softens the skin and may help the stye drain naturally. To apply a warm compress, soak a clean cloth in warm—not hot—water. The water temperature should feel comfortable against your skin, around 100 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Apply the cloth directly to the stye for 5 to 10 minutes. Repeat this process 3 to 4 times daily for several days.

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Maintaining proper eyelid hygiene is equally important during stye treatment. Gently cleanse the eyelid with a clean washcloth and warm water, or use a special eyelid cleanser designed for this purpose. These products are available at pharmacies and are specifically formulated to remove bacteria and oil buildup without irritating the eye. When cleansing, use a fresh cloth each time and wash your hands thoroughly before and after touching the area. Never squeeze or attempt to pop the stye, as this can spread infection deeper into the eyelid or into the bloodstream.

Over-the-counter pain relievers can help manage discomfort while your body heals. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) reduce both pain and inflammation. Follow the dosage instructions on the package, and take these medications only as directed. Many people find that taking a pain reliever 30 minutes before applying a warm compress increases comfort during treatment.

Avoid behaviors that worsen styes during the healing period. Do not wear contact lenses until the stye has completely healed, as contacts can irritate the area and trap bacteria. If you wear eye makeup, avoid applying it near the stye. Discard any eye makeup products you were using when the stye appeared, including mascara, eyeliner, and eyeshadow, as they may harbor the bacteria that caused the infection. Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching or rubbing your eyes. If you must touch the area, use a clean tissue and wash your hands immediately afterward.

Practical Takeaway: Consistent warm compress therapy combined with gentle cleansing and avoiding behaviors that spread bacteria forms the foundation of effective stye treatment at home. Most styes improve within 1 to 2 weeks using these methods alone.

When to Seek Professional Medical Care

While most styes resolve with at-home care, certain situations require evaluation by a healthcare provider. If your stye shows no improvement after one week of consistent treatment, it's time to contact your doctor or eye care professional. Similarly, if the stye worsens despite proper care—meaning increased swelling, spreading redness, or growing pain—professional evaluation is needed. Some styes don't drain naturally and instead become what's called a chalazion, a larger, hard bump that may persist for weeks or months without treatment.

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Seek immediate care if you experience vision changes, such as blurred vision or difficulty seeing. Also contact a healthcare provider if the infection appears to be spreading beyond the eyelid. Signs of spreading infection include redness or swelling extending to the cheek or other parts of the face, or swelling so severe that you cannot fully open your eye. Fever accompanying an eyelid infection is another sign that medical care is necessary.

Recurrent styes—meaning you develop them repeatedly over weeks or months—may indicate an underlying issue that needs professional attention. Some people have chronic skin conditions or bacterial colonization that predisposes them to styes. Others may have meibomian gland dysfunction, a condition where the oil glands don't function properly. A healthcare provider can diagnose these underlying causes and recommend treatments to prevent future styes. Recurrent styes may also require antibiotic ointment or oral antibiotics.

Your eye care professional can perform several treatments that speed healing compared to at-home care alone. They may apply antibiotic ointment directly to the stye or prescribe antibiotic eye drops. For styes that haven't drained after one to two weeks, a professional may perform a warm compress treatment in the office using specialized equipment that delivers deeper heat. In some cases, a healthcare provider may perform a minor drainage procedure under sterile conditions, which brings relief more quickly than waiting for natural drainage. This is especially helpful for styes causing significant pain or vision interference.

Practical Takeaway: Most styes respond to at-home care within 1 to 2 weeks, but knowing when professional care is needed—such as when improvement stalls, symptoms worsen, or infection appears to spread—prevents complications and leads to faster healing.

Medical Treatments Available Through Healthcare Providers

Healthcare providers have several treatment options beyond at-home care. Topical antibiotic ointments, such as bacitracin or erythromycin, are frequently prescribed for styes. These ointments are applied directly to the eyelid and work by killing bacteria at the infection site. They're generally applied 2 to 4 times daily and help prevent the infection from worsening. Antibiotic eye drops are another option, though they're less commonly used for styes than ointments because ointments maintain contact with the eyelid longer.

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Oral antibiotics may be prescribed if your stye is severe, spreading, or if you have recurrent styes suggesting an underlying bacterial issue. Antibiotics like doxycycline or amoxicillin help your body's immune system control the infection from within. These are typically prescribed for 7 to 10 days. Your healthcare provider will determine whether oral antibiotics are necessary based on the stye's severity and your individual risk factors.

Steroid eye drops or ointments may be recommended alongside antibiotics to reduce inflammation and swelling more quickly. These products are prescription-only because steroids require careful monitoring when used near the eye. They work by decreasing the immune response causing swelling, which provides pain relief and helps the eye open more fully. Steroids are typically used for short periods only, usually a few days to a week, and are always prescribed by an eye care professional.

For styes that haven't drained naturally after 1 to 2 weeks, a healthcare provider may perform an incision and drainage procedure. This is