What causes a stye?

Oil glands along the eyelid margin help keep tears from evaporating. If an opening becomes blocked, material can build up and produce a tender lump. A lash follicle can also become inflamed. Touching the eyes with unwashed hands, rubbing, old eye makeup, or eyelid inflammation can make irritation more likely. One stye may sit on the outer lash line; another may form deeper inside the lid. Discharge or widespread redness may point to another or additional problem, so read about [Eye Discharge](/symptoms/eye-discharge/) and [Red Eye](/symptoms/red-eye/).

Apply a clean warm compress to the closed eye for several minutes at a time. Repeat regularly while the lump is tender. Keep hands away from the eye unless cleaning it, and wash them first. Pause contact with eye makeup and do not share towels, cosmetics, or pillowcases. Never pop the stye: pressure can injure the eyelid and spread inflammation. Replace old eye products after recovery if they touched the affected eye.

Contact a clinician if the bump is not settling, keeps coming back, becomes very painful, or interferes with vision. Prompt assessment is needed for fever, marked swelling around the eye, pain when moving the eye, or redness spreading onto the face. A [GP Consultation](/treatments/consultations-and-assessment/gp-consultation/) can help distinguish a stye from a blocked gland, skin infection, or another eye condition.

Where is the blockage located? Could eyelid inflammation be contributing? How should I clean the lid, and what signs mean I need an eye specialist?