22 Safe and Simple Ways to Treat That Stye on Your Eye

At some point, most people will experience the discomfort of a stye—a red, painful bump that forms on the inside or outside of the eyelid. While usually harmless, styes can be irritating, unsightly, and even interfere with your vision if they swell too much. Caused by staphylococcal bacteria often transferred from the nose to the eye, styes are also contagious, making prompt treatment essential. Whether you’re dealing with your first stye or just want it gone fast, we’ve expanded our list to 22 safe, simple, and effective ways to get rid of a stye—and help keep it from coming back.

1. Tea Bags

Tea bags offer a safe and effective way to quickly eliminate styes. To use this method, simply prepare a batch of green or black tea. Wait until the tea is cool enough that it will not burn the skin but is still somewhat warm. Next, soak a washcloth in the tea and press it against the stye. Alternatively, press a soaked tea bag against the stye. Hold the soaked washcloth or tea bag against the stye for at least ten minutes. Repeat this process five times a day until the stye disappears.