How can I get rid of a stye overnight?

Styes rarely vanish overnight. Warm compresses several times a day help them come to a head and drain sooner.

Is a stye contagious?

It is not very contagious, but the bacteria can spread, so avoid sharing towels, pillows and eye makeup.

Should I rub a warm clove or grain on a stye?

Rubbing anything on the eyelid can irritate it and push infection around. A clean warm compress is the safer choice.

Home remedies for stye (gundhani): warm compress, lid hygiene and hands off

A stye (gundhani or anjani) is a red, tender bump on the edge of the eyelid, usually from a blocked, infected oil gland. These home remedies for stye rely on the one thing that helps most: regular warm compresses, along with clean lids and keeping your fingers away.

Important: this remedy is only a supportive home measure. Keep taking any medicine your doctor has prescribed, monitor your readings, and consult your doctor before adding anything new.

What a stye is

Styes are usually caused by bacteria in an eyelash follicle or oil gland. Most drain and heal on their own within a week. A painless, firm lump that lasts for weeks may be a chalazion, which may need an eye doctor.

Warm fomentation (swedana) is a traditional Ayurvedic way of easing swellings, and a warm compress is exactly what eye doctors suggest for a stye too.

Ingredients

A clean cloth or cotton pad
A bowl of warm, previously boiled water
Mild baby shampoo diluted in warm water (for lid cleaning)

How to prepare

Boil water and let it cool until comfortably warm to the wrist.
Mix 2–3 drops of baby shampoo in half a cup of warm water.

How to use

Hold a warm compress on the closed eye for 10 minutes, 3–4 times a day, re-warming the cloth as needed.
Once a day, gently clean the lash line with a cotton bud dipped in the diluted shampoo and rinse.
Continue until the stye drains and settles, usually within a week.

Helpful habits

Skip eye makeup and contact lenses until it heals, and throw away old eye pencils.
Use a separate towel and wash it daily.
Wash hands before touching the face.

Precautions

Never squeeze, prick or pop a stye.
See a doctor if the swelling spreads to the whole lid or cheek, vision is affected, the eye itself becomes red or painful, there is fever, or it does not improve in a week.
Frequent styes should be checked, including for diabetes and eyelid inflammation.

Frequently asked questions

How can I get rid of a stye overnight?: Styes rarely vanish overnight. Warm compresses several times a day help them come to a head and drain sooner.
Is a stye contagious?: It is not very contagious, but the bacteria can spread, so avoid sharing towels, pillows and eye makeup.
Should I rub a warm clove or grain on a stye?: Rubbing anything on the eyelid can irritate it and push infection around. A clean warm compress is the safer choice.