What should you know about a stye on the face?

Styes form around an eyelash or in an eyelid gland. People sometimes use the word for any red bump near the eye, but a cheek, forehead, nose or chin lump may instead be a blocked skin gland, irritated follicle, bite or other skin condition. A clinician can assess the surface, depth and relationship to the eye.

Check whether the lump is actually on the lid edge, whether the skin is hot or spreading red, and whether the eye has discharge, redness, pain or altered vision. Those details help separate a local skin issue from an eye problem.

Wash the area gently and leave it alone. Do not squeeze, needle or shave over the lump, and do not put eye drops, antibiotic cream or household remedies on facial skin without advice. A clean warm cloth may be comforting when the skin is intact, but discontinue it if redness or irritation worsens.

Photographing the area for your own comparison can help you notice change. Book a GP consultation when the bump lasts, enlarges, recurs or is close enough to affect the eyelid.

Seek urgent medical help for facial swelling with breathing difficulty, severe headache, fever, rapidly spreading redness, severe pain, vision change, a closed eyelid or painful eye movement. Arrange a prompt examination for a persistent sore, bleeding lump, crusting, numbness or any change in its appearance.

Ask whether the bump is from the skin, eyelid or nearby tissue, and which cleansing or compress routine is safe. Tell the clinician when it began, how it has changed, whether it was squeezed, and whether you have red eye, eye discharge, dental symptoms or vision changes.