How to Prevent Kuliti (Stye): Make Sure to Observe These Tips

Styes or kuliti is a painful, small, red bump that grows from the base of the eyelash or under the eyelid. Kuliti resembles a pimple with pus inside that sometimes swells over the entire eyelid. Styes are a very common type of infection that usually affects only one eye. You can also develop more than one stye at a time. Learn how to prevent kuliti here. 

How Do Styes Develop?

Dirt, oil, and dead skin build-up on the eyelid and block the tiny oil glands. When one of the oil glands is blocked, bacteria grow to cause the development of kuliti.

Styes can either be external or internal. An external stye affects the oil glands associated with the eyelashes. Internal stye grows within the glands of the eyelids. 

The bacterium that leads to stye infection is the Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus aureus is found in the human body and normally does not cause any harm. If the bacteria gets under the skin, it has the potential to cause infections.

Symptoms

A stye starts with a red bump at the base of the eyelash or within the eyelid. As swelling progresses, a small yellowish spot eventually appears. 

The swelling usually only affects a small area of the lid but sometimes, the irritation can affect the whole eyelid. The eyelid will feel tender to the touch. The eye covered by the infected eyelid might feel sore and itchy. 

Aside from painful swelling, symptoms of stye include tearing and discomfort. It also includes photophobia or sensitivity to bright light.

Causes 

Poor hygiene

Poor hygiene can cause styes. Rubbing the eyes with your hands, putting on contact lenses without cleaning your hands, and sleeping with contacts on invite bacteria to infect the eyelids and eventually cause styes. One of the ways on how to prevent kuliti is to make sure that you wash your hands before touching any part of the eye. 

Chlorine and sweat

Chlorine and sweat are also a cause of styes. One tip on how to prevent kuliti is to make sure that you wash your face after a workout or having a dip in the pool. That refreshing wash can significantly lower the risk of having styes

Make-up and putting on eyelash extensions

Make-up and putting on eyelash extensions can attract bacteria in the eyelid and eyelash. Eyelash extensions usually accumulate dirt which makes the glands on the eyelash prone to developing styes. Using disposable eyelash extensions, replacing eye makeup cakes, and cleaning makeup brushes are just some of the tips on how to prevent kuliti.

Rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis

Conditions such as rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis can increase your risk of getting styes. Blepharitis, an inflammation of the eyelids with the formation of dandruff on the eyelashes, can also cause the development of styes. Treating these conditions is an effective way on how to prevent kuliti. 

Weak immune system

People with a weak immune system are more prone to infections and this increases their risk of getting styes.

How to Prevent Kuliti and Treat it

Commonly, no treatment is necessary to get rid of styes. Once the swelling occurs and pus accumulates, the bump will most likely burst within 3-4 days. The pus on the bump will drain away and make room for healing. It takes up to 1-2 weeks before a stye is fully healed.

Home remedies

Home remedies for stye include the use of a warm compress. The heat helps with the discomfort as well as bringing the pus to the surface. Once the pus is brought out, it can drain naturally.

Massage

Massaging the infected area to promote drainage can also help in treating styes. Make sure that your hands are clean before touching the area. 

Stye can be painful so taking over-the-counter pain relievers can provide some relief.

Draining the stye

Incision and drainage of an external stye can also be performed by a health professional. A sterile needle or scalpel is used to cut the stye open and drain the pus out. 

It is not safe to attempt lancing the stye on your own. The infection might spread and can cause serious problems.

An internal stye can also be drained. The eyelid is first flipped inside out to expose the stye. A local anaesthetic is injected to numb the eyelid before the stye is scraped out. Antibiotic drops are then administered to the patient after the procedure.

Key Takeaways

Styes or kuliti is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation in the glands of the eyelids and eyelashes. The infected area will start to swell and pus will accumulate. Draining the pus can promote healing of the stye. Usually, styes are self-limiting and resolve spontaneously. There are home remedies that can be done to speed up the healing process. However, in some cases, styes can persist and cause excessive pain. If pain becomes intolerable or the stye doesn’t go away, it is best to visit a doctor for further treatment. 

Learn more about Eye Care here.