If you have a stye, there are several things you can do to help it heal faster and reduce discomfort. Here are some dos and donts to manage your stye at home:

Do:

• Use warm compresses: Apply a warm washcloth to the eyelid for 10-15 minutes several times a day. The warmth helps bring the pus to the surface, dissolving it so the stye can drain naturally.
• Clean your eyelid: Gently wash the affected eyelid with mild soap and water.
• 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 face and eyes clean: Get rid of any crust around your eye. Baby shampoo is an inexpensive, gentle cleanser.
• Take pain relievers: Like ibuprofen if the area is sore.

Dont:

• Squeeze or try to puncture the stye: Doing so can cause the infection to spread.
• Wear eye makeup: 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.
• Wear contact lenses: Wear glasses instead of contact lenses while you have a stye. After it’s healed, clean and disinfect your lenses before putting them in again. Or switch to a new pair.

Most styes burst or go away on their own after several days. But cleaning it will help bring the pus out. Then, it will drain on its own. If after 48 hours of self-care your pain and swelling aren’t getting any better, it’s time to call your eye care provider.