Minor Injuries: Seeking Treatment in a Timely Manner

A stye is a pimple-like swelling that usually invades the eyelid area. Although it is painful and can cause tenderness, swelling and redness around the eyelids, treating a stye requires a different approach from the one normally used to treat a pimple. Here is what you should know about treating styes.

Wait and see

Styes usually occur when there is an excessive build-up of friendly bacteria in the body. It is this build-up that usually leads to an infection that then causes oil gland blockage.

The human body is usually capable of bringing this bacteria under control. Therefore, instead of popping the stye, it is advisable that you let it be. In a matter of days, your immune system should be able to lower the levels of the stye-causing bacteria. This will be enough to cause the stye to rupture. It will eventually disappear.

However, if you think that the stye is taking too long, you can speed up its rupturing process by applying hot compresses on the affected area. Four times a day will be enough to encourage it to speed things along.

Popping

There are times when even after the infection stops, the stye leaves behind a cyst-like swelling. This is something that usually happens when the stye develops on the inner side of a person's eyelids. If this is the case, the swelling will need to be drained of any fluid.

However, given the location of the stye and the accompanying risks of eye injury and infections, this is something that should be done by an eye specialist such as Baldwin Optical & Hearing Aid Co.

Ointment

Styes are common and getting them to disappear rarely calls for the use of medication. But what isn't common is recurring styes. If you happen to have regular stye attacks, your immune system may be in desperate need of a helping hand. This is because regular stye attacks are a sign that your immune system is having trouble keeping the stye-causing bacteria under control.

To help your immune system fight this bacteria, your doctor may have to prescribe an antibiotic ointment. You may also have to use moistened eyelid cleaning pads in order to minimize the risks of further infection.

Reminder

Since the stye-causing bacteria can be spread, there is always the risk of infecting your loved ones with styes. It is therefore imperative that you keep your hands clean and that you avoid sharing things like towels, washcloths and pillow cases with your loved ones. This small precautionary measure will help reduce incidences of swollen eyelids among your friends and family.