The eyes are a very sensitive part, to be treated “with gloves” we could dare to say to specify that clean hands, certified cosmetics and specific creams are the indisputable practice when it comes to treating this part of the body. The risk of being exposed to infections, as is the case with styes , is much higher.

• What is sty
• Symptoms of styes
• Sty, the diagnosis
• Sty or chalazion?
• Causes of the sty and risk factors
• The sty in children
• Sty, what to eat
• Foods to avoid
• Preventing styes
• Styes, natural cures and remedies
• Pharmacological treatments for styes
• Sty and medical treatment

Sty, what is it 

Sty is a bacterial infection that involves the sebaceous glands where the eyelashes root. The eyelid is thus swollen and red, with a yellowish swelling. It can affect both the outer and the outer part of the eyelid . 

How long does a sty last? Usually this is a temporary discomfort that generates pain but disappears within a few days (however, it depends a lot on the extent of inflammation and individual sensitivity). 

Symptoms of styes 

Pain , redness and swelling  due to the accumulation of sebum around the eye area are the most common symptoms related to the appearance of styes. Often these symptoms are accompanied by an annoying  burning sensation , intense tearing , ocular discharge , photophobia .

Diagnosis of styes

The diagnosis is practicable through a normal eye examination , which will first of all identify the disorder. In general, the visual impact is enough to understand that it is a sty and in any case we proceed with the exclusion of different but similar pathologies for manifestation such as papillomas, xanthellasmas and chalazion.

Sty or chalazion?

The chalazion  is a cyst resulting from inflammation of the meibonium glands, located in the eyelid. It manifests on the outside, with swelling of the eyelid. The meibonium gland itself produces the lipid part of the lacrimal secretion and if it becomes infected it can lead to the formation of a chalazion. The sty , on the other hand, is caused by the infection of a sebaceous gland of an eyelash or an accessory lacrimal gland.

Causes of the sty and risk factors

The triggering causes of the sty can be attributable to poor hygiene that carries staphylococcal infections , or weakening of the immune system that can lead to bacterial infection by colonies of different microorganisms often migrating from conjunctivitis that is not completely cured.

Stress can also represent a causal component to the onset of styes .

In some subjects the sty tends to relapse as there is a particular predisposition to ocular inflammation. Warning:  the sty is contagious , so it is recommended not to touch yourself and in any case always wash your hands thoroughly. This practice has now been integrated into the virtuous habits of many following the coronavirus pandemic , and implemented among the preventive indications against infections of all kinds, because the eyes are a very sensitive entrance.

The sty in children

The appearance of styes in children is very common . It usually manifests itself with the onset of a small boil on the edge of one of the two eyelids, with an often painful white dot. Children often rub their eyes and their hands come into contact with everything that attracts their attention, in these cases the onset of styes can be frequent. 

It is therefore important to keep them well clean and in the case of sty you can make warm compresses of chamomile with the help of a sterile gauze pad . It will provide relief by limiting irritation and pain and speed up suppuration times. In the event of the presence of sty with pus, the doctor may prescribe a specific antibiotic ointment .

Sty, what to eat

It is advisable to use a diet rich in vitamin E , vitamin A and vitamin C. Consumption of raw vegetables and fruits , foods such as cod liver oil (supplements), apricots, carrots, radicchio, tuna, eggs, spinach, walnuts, hazelnuts, peanuts, almonds, sunflower oil, wheat germ (supplement), pineapple, kiwi, strawberries, cherries, broccoli, lettuce, cabbage.

Cooking should be steamed or otherwise light. Limit the frying to the maximum.

What not to eat, foods to avoid

During the treatments to defuse the sty it is recommended to avoid sausages, red meat, sugar, milk and dairy products, solanaceous such as tomatoes and aubergines, because they are acidifying foods.

Limit your intake of carbohydrates , carbonated drinks, coffee , black tea .
Basically, in order to maintain a balanced pH in the blood and tissues we should consider a diet consisting of 80% alkaline foods , half of which with raw foods, and 20% with acidifying foods.

How to prevent styes

The first indication is naturally linked to hygiene : do not touch our eyes with hands that have not been previously washed. Still in terms of hygiene, the eyelids need to be washed morning and evening . In the evening it is essential to remove make-up with specific ophthalmologically tested products. Mascara, powders such as eyeshadow, bronzer must be removed gently but carefully to allow the skin to breathe. 

Even those who do not wear makeup must take care of cleansing the eyes from the environmental pollution of the day , from fine dust, smog, dust, pollutants of various kinds. Cleansing in the morning is essential for the elimination of excess sebum produced at night. Also pay attention to the application of false eyelashes with irritating adhesives.

Running tap water is often too rich in limescale and could harm your eyes. Better to use specific preparations based on rose water, eyebright , chamomile or cornflower . Otherwise, use bottled water.

You can learn more about all the properties of vitamins and the foods that contain the

Sty, natural cures and remedies

The anti-inflammatory remedy par excellence is chamomile , with a powerful soothing effect. You can make a compress with cotton soaked in chamomile infusion , although in some cases the sachet is applied directly to the eye for 15-20 minutes, at least a couple of times a day. A common remedy is also a green tea pack with warm water. 

Synergistic natural remedies are also infusions of euphrasia , cornflower , calendula and elderberry. Yes to herbal teas that help purify the liver such as those based on burdock or dandelion .

Bach flowers can also be of support in cures for styes: they work and act on an emotional level on the mechanisms of certain personalities, affecting the softening of personal characteristics. Inflammations can be connected by a nature that ” catches fire “, which lets itself be possessed by instinct. In other cases, something occurs in the skin that is generally held back, kept to itself. 

Crab apple is very useful in case of infections  such as those related to the manifestation of the sty and, in general, for physical and mental purification. Hornbeam is specifically for eye problems.

The disorder in Chinese medicine  is identified as a strong energy imbalance. The eyes are closely related to the energy of the liver and its ability to purify the blood. Chinese medicine through acupuncture stimulates its functionality. 

Even with Qi gong and Tai chi chuan meditation in motion you can avoid stagnation of energy and feel the flow that goes in its natural direction.

The liver is affected by a possible feeling of excess anger that generates skin problems and through the art that uses the body and mind to transmit change, a lot can be done in this sense.

Homeopathic remedies for the eyes  can vary greatly depending on the presence and state of pus in the skin manifestation. Pulsatilla in general can stop or act on the size and growth of the sty. Hepar sulfur stops suppuration.
Belladonna , again, has a noticeable effect on the swollen and red eye, sensitive to light and suffering from intense pain. For throbbing or steady pain and generalized sensation of discomfort in the eye, Euphrasia is also useful .

Pharmacological treatments for styes

Pharmacological treatments include the application of antibiotic creams or corticosteroids . Generally, the fastest treatment with ointments and drugs for styes to solve problems of this kind, and in case of relapses, the integration of vitamin A and vitamin C is recommended . 

Sty, medical treatment

In addition to the pharmacological treatments indicated, specific eye drops are generally prescribed , always of an antibiotic nature, a macrolide. If despite these aids the sty persists, then it must be treated like a chalazion, with surgical removal.