How do you get rid of a stye in 5 minutes
A stye is a common but uncomfortable problem that many people face at least once in their lives. It appears as a red, swollen bump near the edge of your eyelid, caused by a bacterial infection.
While styes are generally harmless and heal on their own in one to two weeks, waiting that long can be frustrating, especially if it’s painful or affecting your appearance. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to relieve discomfort and encourage faster healing—sometimes starting in as little as five minutes.
Let’s break it down in detail, including what you should and shouldn’t do to deal with a stye effectively.
What is a Stye?
A stye, or hordeolum, forms when bacteria infects the glands in your eyelid. These glands, like the sebaceous (oil) glands or eyelash follicles, can get clogged due to dead skin, makeup, or dirt buildup. Once clogged, the bacteria inside can multiply, causing swelling, redness, and tenderness.
Styes often look like small pimples, and you may notice the following symptoms:
- Red, swollen lump near the base of your eyelash or on the inside of your eyelid.
- Tenderness or pain, especially when touching the area.
- Discharge or crusting around the eye.
- General eyelid swelling that can make it hard to fully open your eye.
How to Get Rid of a Stye in 5 Minutes
While you can’t make a stye vanish instantly, you can reduce the discomfort and start the healing process right away. Here’s what you need to do:
1. Apply a Warm Compress (The Most Important Step)
A warm compress is the quickest way to relieve pain and promote healing. The heat helps increase blood flow to the area, softens the clogged gland, and allows the stye to drain naturally.
- How to Use a Warm Compress:
- Take a clean washcloth and soak it in warm water. Make sure the water is warm, not hot, to avoid burns.
- Wring out the excess water and place the cloth gently over your closed eye.
- Leave it on for about 5–10 minutes, reheating the cloth as needed to maintain warmth.
- Repeat this process 3–4 times a day for best results.
For a more effective and convenient option, consider using a Bruder Mask, a specially designed compress that provides consistent moist heat. Simply heat it in the microwave for 10–20 seconds and place it over your eye.
Pro Tip: When using a warm compress, focus on the affected eye and let the heat do the work. Avoid pressing or squeezing the stye, as this can make the infection worse.
2. Massage the Stye Gently After Heat
Once you’ve applied a warm compress, use your fingertip to gently massage the stye in small circular motions. This helps break up the blockage and encourages the stye to drain naturally.
- Use light pressure, and don’t force anything. If it’s too painful, stop and try again later.
- Massaging too hard can irritate the area and spread bacteria.
3. Clean the Eyelid Properly
Hygiene is critical when dealing with a stye. Keeping your eyelid clean helps reduce bacteria and prevent further infection.
- Use an eyelid-specific cleaning product, like Systane Lid Wipes or I-Lid ‘n Lashes spray, to gently clean the area around the stye.
- Avoid using regular soap or baby shampoo, as these can sting your eyes.
If you wear makeup, remove it completely and refrain from applying any products near your eyes until the stye heals. Old makeup brushes and mascara tubes can harbor bacteria, so discard them if they might be contributing to the infection.
4. Take a Break from Contact Lenses
If you wear contact lenses, switch to glasses while the stye heals. Contacts can trap bacteria and irritate the infected area, potentially causing complications. Dispose of any lenses you used when the stye appeared to avoid reinfection.
5. Rest Your Eyes and Repeat the Treatment Daily
Resting your eyes and maintaining the warm compress routine 2–3 times a day is the best way to ensure quick recovery. While it won’t disappear in five minutes, this method provides immediate relief and significantly speeds up healing.
What You Should Never Do
To avoid making the stye worse, here are a few things you should never do:
- Don’t Pop It: It might be tempting to pop a stye like a pimple, but doing so can spread the infection deeper into your eyelid and even to other parts of your eye.
- Skip Tea Bags: While some people suggest using warm tea bags as a compress, they don’t retain heat long enough to be effective. The acidity in tea can also sting your eye.
- Avoid Drugstore Antibiotic Ointments: Over-the-counter ointments like Polysporin aren’t effective at curing a stye. They may reduce bacteria, but they won’t speed up healing.
- Say No to Makeup: Makeup can further clog your glands and introduce new bacteria, delaying the healing process.
When to See a Doctor
If your stye isn’t improving after a few days of treatment or if you notice worsening symptoms, consult an optometrist. Seek medical attention if:
- Your stye becomes very large or painful.
- Your eyelid swells shut or you experience blurred vision.
- You develop a fever or the infection seems to spread beyond your eyelid.
- The stye keeps coming back in the same spot, which could indicate an underlying issue like a chalazion.
Final Thoughts
Getting rid of a stye quickly involves a combination of warm compresses, gentle care, and good hygiene. While complete healing takes time, these methods can reduce pain and swelling almost immediately, helping you feel better fast. If you follow these steps and take precautions to avoid reinfection, you’ll be back to normal in no time.
