Did you know that you can use castor oil for stye treatment at home? All you need is some castor oil and this article to guide you.
This article will cover:
- What is a Stye?
- Causes and Symptoms
- Benefits of Castor Oil
- How to Use?
- Precautions
1. What is a Stye?
A stye is a type of infection in the oil glands in the eye. It is caused by Staphylococcus bacteria. Medically referred to as hordeolum, styes can either be formed externally or internally. An external stye forms at the base of your eyelash or outside your eyelid, however, internal stye forms within the oil gland itself. The external stye can be identified as a red lump of pus resembling a pimple.
2. Causes and Symptoms
Stye is a bacterial infection caused majorly because of an infection in the eyelash follicle, which are the minute pores from which your eyelashes grow. Infection in the eye glands that are responsible for keeping your eyelashes dry can also result in styes. Identifying a stye in proper time is important to begin its treatment. Some of the most common symptoms of stye are redness, pain, and swelling in or around your eyes. Other symptoms can include discharge of mucus from the eye, blurry vision, crusting of the eyelid margins, droopy eyelids, and frequent tearing.
3. Benefits of Castor Oil for Stye
The use of castor oil in home remedies and beauty products is increased by multifold owing to the recent world trend of all things ‘organic’. Castor oil is a one-stop solution for all the nourishment, rejuvenation and purification needs of your skin. Castor oil is used in treating a number of ailments, the majority of which are eye-related because it contains powerful fatty acids and a rich antioxidant profile.
However, it is important to mention that just about any castor oil purchased from your neighborhood grocery store can NOT be used for treating a stye. You should always make sure that you purchase a cold-pressed, hexane-free, 100% organic and sterile grade castor oil to avoid any further damage to your eye.
Castor oil contains anti-inflammatory properties, which make it very helpful in treating eye allergies, bloodshot eyes, irritated eyes, swollen/puffy eye and dark circles.
4. How to Use Castor Oil for Stye Treatment?
You can follow the following steps at the comfort of your home and easily get rid of a stye.
- Wash your eyes with lukewarm water and then gently pat dry the stye eye with a clean and dry towel.
- Dip a Q-tip into the castor oil and let it absorb the oil for a couple of seconds. Then use the Q-tip to gently apply the oil on and around the stye.
- Repeat the process twice daily and also before going to bed at night.
In just a span of few days, you will observe visible results in the reduction of your stye.
5. Precautions
Even though styes do not create any vision loss but there are some precautions you need to take while tending to your styes:
- Do NOT pop a stye under any circumstances. Styes are filled with pus and infected bacteria which when popped will only result in spreading the stye to other spots.
- Styes are contagious so you should be careful about not sharing your face towels and wash clothes with other people.
- A stye can reform after being treated/healed and therefore, it is important to ensure that you are not using any outdated eye makeup products.
- You should also ensure that your contact lenses are disinfected before putting them in your eyes.