What Causes Eyelid Styes And How To Prevent Them?

You wake up and feel a small, tender bump on your eyelid. It is likely a stye. A stye is a common, painful infection of the oil glands in your eyelid. The direct cause is bacteria, usually Staphylococcus aureus, that gets trapped in a gland. Most styes heal on their own in a few days with warm compresses. You can lower your risk by keeping your eyelids clean and not touching your eyes with dirty hands.

What Exactly Is a Stye and How Does It Form?

A stye is a small, red, painful lump that forms on the edge of your eyelid. It looks like a pimple. Medically, it is called a hordeolum. There are two types. An external stye forms at the base of an eyelash follicle. An internal stye forms deeper inside the eyelid on an oil gland called a meibomian gland.

The process starts when bacteria enter one of these tiny glands. The gland becomes blocked. The body sends white blood cells to fight the infection. This causes pus to build up. That buildup creates the red, swollen, and painful bump you feel. The bump usually points outward or inward depending on the type.

Most styes are not serious. But they are uncomfortable. The swelling can make your eye water or feel sensitive to light. In rare cases, the infection can spread to the surrounding eyelid tissue, causing a condition called cellulitis. That requires medical attention.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Styes?

The leading cause is bacteria. The Staphylococcus aureus bacteria lives harmlessly on many people’s skin and inside their noses. It becomes a problem when it gets into the eyelid glands. This usually happens through direct contact.

Common ways bacteria reach the eyelid include:

• Rubbing your eyes with unwashed hands
• Using old or contaminated eye makeup, especially mascara and eyeliner
• Not removing eye makeup before sleeping
• Sharing towels, washcloths, or pillowcases with someone who has a stye
• Wearing contact lenses without proper hygiene

Some people are more prone to styes than others. If you have blepharitis, a chronic inflammation of the eyelid margins, your risk is higher. Blepharitis causes the oil glands to produce abnormal secretions that clog easily. People with diabetes, rosacea, or seborrheic dermatitis also get styes more often. Stress and lack of sleep can weaken your immune system, making it harder to fight off the bacteria.

How Can You Tell a Stye From a Chalazion?

This is a common confusion. A chalazion looks similar to a stye but is not an infection. It is a blocked oil gland that becomes inflamed but not infected. The table below shows the key differences.

If you are unsure which you have, see an eye doctor. A chalazion that does not go away may need a small procedure to drain it. Never try to pop either one yourself.

What Does Research Say About Preventing Styes?

Research published in the Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection has found that eyelid hygiene is the most effective prevention strategy. The study showed that people who cleaned their eyelid margins daily had significantly fewer stye recurrences. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends warm compresses and eyelid scrubs for people with frequent styes.

Warm compresses do two things. First, the heat thins the oil in the glands, helping them drain naturally. Second, it increases blood flow to the area, which helps your immune system fight bacteria. The recommended method is to apply a clean, warm washcloth to the closed eye for 10 to 15 minutes, three to four times a day.

For eyelid scrubs, use a commercial eyelid cleanser or a diluted solution of baby shampoo and water. Gently rub the closed eyelid along the lash line with a clean cotton swab. This removes excess bacteria, dead skin, and debris that can clog glands. Some evidence indicates that using tea tree oil wipes on the eyelids can reduce bacteria and mites that contribute to blepharitis and styes.

There is no strong evidence that changing your diet prevents styes. Some people claim that reducing sugar or dairy helps. As of 2026, no clinical study supports this claim. The best prevention remains mechanical cleanliness, not dietary changes.

What Should You Do When a Stye Develops?

Most styes resolve without medical treatment. The first step is a warm compress. Apply it for 10 to 15 minutes several times a day. This helps the stye come to a head and drain on its own. Do not squeeze or pop the stye. That can push the infection deeper into the eyelid or into the bloodstream, which is dangerous.

You can use over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen for discomfort. Some people use stye ointments or drops from the pharmacy. These products often contain antibiotics or steroids. Use them only if your doctor recommends them. Using steroid drops on an active infection can sometimes make things worse.

Stop wearing eye makeup until the stye heals. Throw away any makeup you used around the time the stye formed. The bacteria can stay in the product and cause another infection. Do not wear contact lenses until the stye is fully gone. If you wear daily disposables, use a fresh pair when you start again.

See a doctor if the stye does not improve after 48 hours of warm compresses. Also seek care if the swelling spreads to the rest of your eyelid or your cheek, if your vision changes, or if you have a fever. These can be signs of a spreading infection that needs prescription antibiotics or drainage.

What Are Common Misconceptions About Styes?

One widespread myth is that styes are caused by “bad luck” or by looking at someone with a stye. This is not true. Styes are caused by bacteria, not by eye contact or superstition. Another myth is that styes are contagious. The bacteria that cause styes can spread through direct contact, like sharing a towel. But you cannot catch a stye just by being near someone who has one.

Some people believe that styes come from “stressing out” or being tired. While stress and lack of sleep can weaken your immune system, they do not directly cause styes. The bacteria still need to enter the gland. The real risk factor is poor hygiene or an underlying condition like blepharitis.

Another common mistake is treating a stye like a pimple. People try to pop it with their fingers, a needle, or a comedone extractor. Do not do this. The eyelid has a rich blood supply. Squeezing can force bacteria into the bloodstream and cause a serious infection called orbital cellulitis or even cavernous sinus thrombosis, which is life-threatening. Let the stye drain naturally or let a doctor handle it.

What Causes Eyelid Styes And How To Prevent Them in People Who Get Them Often?

For people who get styes repeatedly, the root cause is usually an underlying condition. Chronic blepharitis is the most common culprit. The American Academy of Ophthalmology states that about 50% of people with chronic styes have blepharitis. Rosacea, a skin condition that causes facial redness, is also strongly linked.

If you get styes several times a year, see an eye doctor. They can check for these conditions. Treatment for blepharitis often includes daily eyelid hygiene, warm compresses, and sometimes antibiotic ointment. For rosacea, a dermatologist can prescribe oral antibiotics or topical medications that reduce inflammation.

Some people benefit from using omega-3 fatty acid supplements. Research published in Cornea found that omega-3s can improve the quality of oil produced by meibomian glands. This makes the oil less likely to harden and block the gland. The typical dose is 1000 to 2000 mg of fish oil per day. Talk to your doctor before starting any supplement.

For women who get styes often, consider your makeup habits. Replace mascara every three months. Do not use eyeliner on the inner rim of the eyelid, called the waterline. That area is very close to the oil gland openings. Clean makeup brushes and sponges weekly. Never share eye makeup with anyone.