Styes are swollen glands that form along the edge of the eyelid, close to the lashes. A stye can also occur inside or under the eyelid. Styes are common, and home remedies can usually help.

Styes are commonly caused by blocked glands due to a buildup of oil, sweat, or other material. Because of this, not regularly washing your face and hands can increase your risk of a stye.

She says prolonged and ill-fitting mask wear could be one of the factors for the painful styes. "A stye is basically where the oil glands of the eyelid, get clogged up typically caused by bacteria ...

Styes may feel like you have dust or sand trapped under your eyelid. Generally, a stye goes away on its own within a week. Usually, a bacterial infection of the eyelid gland causes styes.

How long a stye lasts may vary. They usually clear up on their own within 1–2 weeks and may not require medical treatment. Applying a warm compress may help speed up healing.

Pink eye and styes are both eye infections. A stye involves a hard lump along the border of your eyelid. Pink eye affects the lining of your eye and can result in redness and tearing along the ...

Luckily, styes rarely develop into something serious. “Styes usually last for a couple of days before beginning to disappear on their own or with home care measures,” Pierce says.

How to Prevent Styes. Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors. Medically Reviewed by Timothy G. Murray, MBA, MD, FACS on April 25, 2025. 1 min read.

And actually, as Dr. King explained, because styes are like acne, and it's OK to wear makeup over acne, it's also OK to wear makeup when you have a stye — especially because your products likely ...

"A person who has frequent styes should also be checked." Once you've got one, the best way to treat a stye is with a warm compress and local, topical antibiotic cream, say Schaffner and Park.