Styes, or eyelid abscesses, can be painful, irritating, and downright annoying. Unfortunately, if you’ve gotten one before, you are more likely to get them again. In this blog, we are sharing the most effective preventative measures you can take and what to do if they fail.
FIRST THINGS FIRST: HOW DO STYES FORM?
There are several different glands in the skin of the upper and lower eyelids. Similar to the sebaceous glands of the skin, the meibomian glands are the oil-producing glands that form a liquid film that lubricates and protects the eyes. It is not uncommon for one of these glands to get clogged by dead skin cells, makeup or develop a bacterial infection that results in painful, red swelling in the eyelid, also known as a stye. Usually, styes form in one eyelid; however, like acne, it is not uncommon to have styes that affect multiple eyelids.
While anyone can get a stye, we start seeing them in patients in their late 20s. Environmental factors play a big role. Dust and allergens result in allergies that can cause inflammation in your skin and eyes. This inflammation can dehydrate the oil glands and increase the risk of them becoming clogged. There is also research to suggest that sleep deprivation, stress, or inflammatory diets can all also contribute to the formation of a stye.
HOW DO I KEEP FROM GETTING ANOTHER STYE?
Once you’ve had a stye, you are more likely to get another one. However, there are some precautions you can take to prevent stye formation. Your first line of defense is cleanliness. Clean your eyelids when you are in the shower using a mild soap like Cetaphil gentle cleanser or Dial complete moisturizing hand soap. Always remove eye makeup before you go to bed. Avoiding inflammatory foods: Dairy, Peanuts, Soy, Gluten, High Glycemic Index
Getting ample sleep, eating well, and stress reduction techniques can all also help to keep you from getting another stye. Finally, if you are prone to getting styes, applying a warm compress each morning for 10 min after cleaning your face and eyes may keep your glands from clogging.
WHAT IF I’M DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT AND I STILL GET A STYE?
Most styes resolve on their own within a week with warm compresses and antibiotics. During this time, you may apply a warm compress 20 minutes 5-6x/day to help relieve pain and encourage the stye to drain.
However, if you have a stye that has persisted or is causing increasing irritation or problems with your vision, medical treatment of your stye is available. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, lance and drain the stye, surgically remove it, or inject anti-inflammatory medication.
If you are ready to seek medical treatment for your stye, contact Hudson Face and Eye at 347.788.1841 for quick relief through our Same Day Stye treatment.
