A stye is a red, painful lump near the edge of your eyelid that may look like a boil or a pimple. Sties are often filled with pus. A stye usually forms on the outside of your eyelid. But sometimes it can form on the inner part of your eyelid.
In most cases, a stye will begin to disappear on its own in a couple days. In the meantime, you may be able to relieve the pain or discomfort of a styed by applying a warm washcloth to your eyelid.
Signs and symptoms of a stye include:
- A red lump on your eyelid that is similar to a boil or a pimple
- Eyelid pain
- Eyelid swelling
- Tearing
Another condition that causes inflammation of the eyelid is a chalazion. A chalazion occurs when there's a blockage in one of the small oil glands at the margin of the eyelid, just behind the eyelashes. Unlike a stye, a chalazion usually isn't painful and tends to be most prominent on the inner side of the eyelid. Treatment for both conditions is similar.
A stye is caused by an infection of oil glands in the eyelid. The bacterium staphylococcus is responsible for most of these infections.
You are at increased risk of a stye if you:
- Touch your eyes with unwashed hands
- Insert your contact lenses without thoroughly disinfecting them or washing your hands first
- Leave on eye makeup overnight
- Use old or expired cosmetics
- Have blepharitis, a chronic inflammation along the edge of the eyelid
- Have rosacea, a skin condition characterized by facial redness
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