How to Treat a Stye: Fast & Effective Home Remedies

A stye is a small, painful bump on the eyelid caused by a bacterial infection in an oil gland. Most styes heal on their own within 7–10 days with simple home care, and a warm compress is the most effective way to speed recovery.

Typical duration: 7-10 days ·
Compress frequency: 3-4 times daily ·
Compress duration: 5-10 minutes ·
Contagious?: No ·
Common cause: Bacterial infection

What causes a stye?

A stye (sometimes spelled “sty”) is a small, painful lump that develops on the inside or outside of your eyelid. Most styes form when a tiny oil gland at the base of an eyelash becomes clogged and then infected with Staphylococcus bacteria — the same bacteria behind many skin infections. The result is a tender, red bump that may fill with pus.

Bacterial infections

The Cleveland Clinic explains that Staphylococcus bacteria are the usual culprit behind most styes. These bacteria live on the skin and don’t typically cause harm, but when they enter the small openings of the eyelid glands, an infection can take hold. Good eyelid hygiene — washing your face daily and keeping your hands clean — helps keep these bacteria where they belong.

Blocked oil glands

Your eyelids contain dozens of tiny oil glands (meibomian glands) that keep your eyes lubricated. When one of these glands gets blocked — whether from dead skin cells, excess oil, or debris — it creates a breeding ground for bacteria. Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE) notes that poor eyelid hygiene is a common trigger, making regular cleaning part of both treatment and prevention.

Risk factors like dirty pillowcases

If you’ve ever wondered whether a dirty pillowcase can cause a stye, the answer is yes — indirectly. Pillowcases accumulate dead skin cells, oils, and bacteria over time. Pressing your face against a contaminated pillow night after night transfers that buildup to your eyelids. HSE recommends not sharing towels with someone who has a stye, which underscores how bacterial transfer can play a role even though styes themselves aren’t usually contagious from person to person.

How long does a stye last?

One of the most reassuring facts about styes is that they typically resolve on their own without medical intervention. Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials reports that most styes heal within 7-10 days with consistent self-care. NCBI StatPearls notes that over 70% of styes resolve within 1-2 weeks when treated conservatively.

Typical timeline

A stye typically progresses like this: it tends to be most painful in the first couple of days, then begins to shrink after a few days of warm compress treatment, according to NYU Langone Health. The bump may come to a head, drain slightly, and flatten out over the following week. Complete resolution typically happens within 7-10 days — though some stubborn styes can linger longer.

When it persists

If your stye hasn’t improved after two weeks, or if it’s growing rather than shrinking, it’s time to see a healthcare provider. Persistent styes sometimes need prescription antibiotic ointments or, in rare cases, a minor procedure to drain them. Vision changes, increasing swelling, or significant pain are also signals that professional care is warranted.

How do you get rid of a stye quickly?

The warm compress is the gold standard for stye treatment — and for good reason. Applying warmth helps the stye come to a head and drain naturally, speeding up the healing process. Dr. Goldman from Cleveland Clinic puts it simply: “Applying warmth to a stye is what helps it come to a head and resolve itself.”

Warm compress steps

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water
• Wet a clean washcloth with warm (not hot) water
• Wring out excess water and hold it against your closed eyelid for 5-10 minutes
• Gently massage the area with circular motions after removing the cloth
• Repeat this 3-4 times per day until the stye improves

HSE recommends this routine three to four times daily for 5-10 minutes per session. NHS UK suggests 2-4 times daily, while Mayo Clinic recommends 2-3 times daily. The slight variation reflects that even these authorities don’t agree on an exact formula — but all converge on warmth, consistency, and gentle technique.

Eyelid hygiene

Keeping the eyelid clean helps prevent the buildup that contributes to styes. Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials recommends using a few drops of baby shampoo mixed with warm water to clean the eyelid margins. This breaks down oil and debris without harsh chemicals. Use a cotton swab or clean washcloth, and always wash your hands before and after touching the area.

Over-the-counter aids

For pain relief, HSE advises paracetamol or ibuprofen. One important caution: avoid aspirin in children under 16 due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome. Harvard Health warns against using over-the-counter eye drops or ointments without consulting a doctor first, as some products can irritate the eye or worsen the condition.

Can you put a tea bag on a stye?

You’ve probably seen this home remedy floating around online — pressing a warm tea bag on a stye. Some sources suggest it may help because tea contains tannins, which have mild astringent properties. NW Eye Clinic notes that a warm tea bag can be used as an alternative for about 10 minutes.

Tea bag method

If you want to try the tea bag approach, steep a tea bag in hot water for a minute, then let it cool slightly until it’s warm but not scalding. Squeeze out excess water and place the bag against your closed eyelid for 5-10 minutes. The warmth provides the same benefit as a washcloth, while the tea may offer a slight soothing effect.

What experts say

What the evidence shows: there’s no strong clinical evidence that tea bags work better than a standard warm compress. Major medical institutions like Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic focus their advice on warm compresses without mentioning tea bags as a preferred option. The tea bag method isn’t harmful, but it shouldn’t replace the evidence-backed compress routine.

How to treat a stye on inside of eyelid?

An internal stye (sometimes called an internal hordeolum) forms on the inner surface of the eyelid, where the oil glands are located. It’s often more painful than an external stye because it presses against your eye rather than pointing outward. The good news is that treatment follows the same principles as an external stye, with a few adjustments for comfort.

Internal stye care

Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials emphasizes the same warm compress routine for internal styes, applied to the closed eyelid. The key is consistency — applying warmth 3-4 times daily for 5-10 minutes. NYU Langone Health recommends being especially gentle with internal styes, since the eyelid is more sensitive.

When to seek help

Internal styes sometimes take longer to resolve and may be more likely to develop into a chalazion — a nontender lump caused by a blocked oil gland. If your internal stye hasn’t improved within a week, or if you’re experiencing significant discomfort or vision changes, book an appointment with an optometrist or ophthalmologist. They can assess whether prescription treatment is needed.

Dr. Goldman, Cleveland Clinic“Applying warmth to a stye is what helps it come to a head and resolve itself.”

Ohio State Health physician“Heat is your best tool for getting rid of a stye.”

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While warm compresses speed recovery, getting rid of a stye overnight provide extra home remedies that many find effective for stubborn styes.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials — “How to Get Rid of a Stye”
• Health Service Executive Ireland — “Stye: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention”
• NHS UK — “Stye: Treatment and Causes”
• Mayo Clinic — “Sty: Diagnosis and Treatment”
• NCBI StatPearls — “Hordeolum (Stye) Clinical Guidelines”