Styes in Children: Care Instructions

Overview

A stye is an infection in small oil glands at the root of an eyelash or in the eyelids. This causes a tender red lump on or near the edge of the eyelid. Styes may break open and drain a tiny amount of pus. They usually are not contagious.

Styes almost always clear up on their own in a few days or weeks. Putting a warm, wet compress on the area can help it open and heal. A stye rarely needs antibiotics or other treatment.

After your child has had a stye, they're more likely to get another stye.

How can you care for your child at home?

• Allow the stye to break open by itself. Do not squeeze or try to pop open a stye.
• Put a warm, moist washcloth or piece of gauze on your child's eye for about 10 minutes, 3 to 6 times a day. This helps a stye heal faster. The washcloth or piece of gauze should be clean. Wet it with warm tap water. Do not use hot water, and do not heat the wet washcloth or gauze in a microwave oven. It can become too hot and burn the eyelid.
• Always wash your hands before and after you treat or touch your child's eyes.
• If the doctor gave you medicine, have your child use it exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you think your child is having a problem with a medicine.
• Do not share towels, pillows, or washcloths while your child has a stye.

To prevent styes

• Try to keep your child from rubbing their eyes.
• Keep your child's hands clean and away from their eyes, especially if your child or a close contact has a stye or a skin infection elsewhere on the body.
• Have your child remove eye makeup before going to sleep.
• Eye makeup can spread germs. Do not share eye makeup, and replace it at least every 6 months.