Tips to prevent a stye

The origin of styes is found in the blockage and inflammation of one of the sebaceous glands that are located at the base of the eyelashes or on the edge of the eyelid. Commonly, this occurs when there is a proliferation of bacteria in the area, which accumulate and give way to the appearance of that painful and reddish bump that looks very similar to that of a pimple.

In addition to this, there are other possible causes of styes, among which are the suffering of blepharitis, which is chronic inflammation of the eyelids, poor eye hygiene habits, stress and anxiety, hormonal alterations and drops of defenses.

A stye is manifested by the appearance of a kind of inflamed and reddish bump on the edge of the eyelid, which may have pus or fat inside. Symptoms such as the following may accompany this :

• Pain in the eyelid and a sensation of having a foreign body in the eye.
• Inflamed eyelid.
• Tearing
• Sensitivity to light.
• Legañas formation.

As we have pointed out in the previous section, one of the most common causes of styes is the proliferation of bacteria on the eyelids and inadequate hygiene, so to prevent their appearance, it is essential to take this into account in the first place. . Below you can see all the care and hygiene measures that will help you avoid this condition and maintain perfect eye health at all times.

Avoid touching the eyes with your hands

In many cases, the simple gesture of scratching or rubbing the eyes with the hands is the main responsible for the proliferation of bacteria on the eyelid and the subsequent appearance of the stye. Think that dirty hands or fingers are full of bacteria and germs that can easily be transferred to the eyes if we touch them continuously. For this reason, you should avoid this gesture as much as possible and carry out good hand hygiene , washing them with soap and water regularly, especially when you get home, before eating, after going to the bathroom, after changing diapers. , etc.

Eyelid hygiene

Another key aspect to prevent styes is to maintain proper eyelid hygiene; For this, we recommend that you wash your face at least twice a day (morning and night), including the eyelid area, and do so with a mild soap. If you are prone to developing styes or eye infections, you should be more careful and influence the cleaning of the eyelids daily by doing it in the following way:

• Dampen a small gauze with warm water and pour a few drops of pH neutral soap into it.
• Pass the gauze over the eyelids very gently, working on the base of the eyelashes.
• Dampen another clean gauze and remove the soap residue with it.
• Dry the area with a clean towel.

Likewise, it is essential that if you use make-up products on a daily basis, remove make-up from your eyes every night before going to bed with mild soaps specific to this area. Use good quality cosmetics and avoid applying those that are in poor condition, expired or cause allergic reactions.

Do not share personal items

Sharing personal objects that are permanently in contact with or near the eyes is something that can also facilitate the passage of microorganisms and cause eye infections. Thus, it is advisable not to share objects and items such as towels, scarves, handkerchiefs, razors, glasses, lenses, makeup brushes, mascara, eye shadows, eyeliners with other people. This is especially important when there is a person at home with some type of eye infection.

People who wear contact lenses should exercise extreme caution and make good use of them, since if they are handled with dirty hands or improperly stored, they will greatly increase the chances of developing styes and other types of eye infections.

To begin with, before putting on or taking off your lenses, you should wash and disinfect your hands and then dry them with a lint-free towel. Try to keep the lenses always stored in their case and with the corresponding solution, do not use them longer than indicated and replace them with new ones following the instructions that your eye doctor has provided.

On the other hand, it is not advisable to wear contact lenses for many hours, since then irritation, redness and discomfort in the eyes could arise.

Oily skin or skin with acne suffer the consequences of an excessive production of sebum and it is possible that this can also affect the eye area and block the sebaceous glands that are located there, leading to the formation of styes. In addition, the accumulation of fat, dirt and dead cells favor bacterial proliferation.

Therefore, if you have this type of skin it is essential that you treat it properly and provide it with the necessary care; First, you should cleanse it with water-rinse gels, use an astringent toner, and apply a non-oil-based moisturizer. To apply makeup, choose oil-free products and try to keep the brushes always clean and in perfect condition. On the other hand, follow a balanced diet, rich in vitamins and minerals and low in fatty or sugary foods. Consult a dermatologist if you suffer from acne to find out which treatment and hygiene products are the most appropriate for you.

In the following article you can see effective home remedies for oily skin .

Those spaces or places with a lot of pollution or dust in the environment are not favorable for the health of the eyes, since they lead to the accumulation of waste and dirt in the sebaceous glands of the eyelids, thus contributing to the development of styes.

As far as possible, avoid frequenting these types of environments, especially if your eyes are sensitive and prone to infections. In the event that you cannot prevent this situation, always use appropriate glasses to keep your eyes protected from all external agents that may come into contact with them and damage them.

Many people develop a stye when they are going through a time of nervousness and tension, which is why stress disorders are considered another possible cause of styes. In addition, when you do not rest enough and you do not follow a good diet, the immune system suffers and there is a drop in defenses, which leaves the body more exposed to any type of infection.

To promote your emotional and physical well-being, it is important that you know how to reduce stress and learn to relax on a daily basis. There are many ways to do it and you must find the one that works for you and the one that best suits your lifestyle, it may be enough to exercise daily, practice yoga or Pilates, undergo relaxing massages, go for a walk, ride cycling, laughing therapy, among many others.

In the event that you are not able to cope and experience prolonged stress and continuous symptoms of anxiety, it is best to put yourself in the hands of a specialist and follow all their instructions.

In general, styes tend to heal on their own within a week or so if proper hygiene measures are carried out and the affected area is kept free of grease and dirt. It will be essential to see a doctor urgently in the event that the stye does not improve after 48 hours or if any of the following situations occurs:

• The inflammation of the eyelid spreads to other areas of the eye or face.
• Vision problems occur.
• The stye causes very intense pain or excessive sensitivity.
• The stye is bleeding or there are many scabs in the area.
• If after a week under medical treatment, the stye does not improve.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

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