A stye is a painful red bump on the edge of the eyelid that forms when a tiny oil-producing gland in the eyelash follicle or eyelid skin becomes blocked and infected. Here are some things you can do to treat a stye:

• Apply a warm compress: A warm compress is the most effective way to treat a stye. Wet a clean washcloth with warm water, wring it out, and place it over your eye for about 10-15 minutes. Repeat this process 2-4 times a day for several days. The warmth helps bring the pus to the surface, dissolving it so the stye can drain naturally.

• Gently massage the area: After applying the warm compress, you can use your clean finger to gently massage the stye in order to unplug the oil gland. This not only helps the stye go away more quickly, but it can also alleviate some of your pain and inflammation.

• Keep your eye clean: Use baby shampoo to keep the area around your stye clean and uncovered. Mix a few drops of baby shampoo into warm water and use a cotton swab to gently brush the solution onto your stye. This is also an effective method to prevent styes.

• Take pain relievers: If the area is sore, take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to get relief.

• Dont wear eye makeup: Avoid wearing eye makeup while you have a stye. Makeup can irritate the eye even more and delay the healing process. You can also transfer additional bacteria to your makeup and tools, adding another infection to the stye.

• Dont squeeze or pop the stye: Bacteria cause styes, so don’t pop, squeeze, or touch a stye. It might seem tempting, but squeezing will release pus into the eyelid itself and may lead to a wider infection.

Most styes burst or go away on their own after several days. However, if your stye doesnt clear up, your doctor may make a small cut in it to drain the pus. If your vision seems to be affected or if your stye seems to be getting worse instead of better, contact your healthcare provider.