HomeHealthIs There a Connection...

Is There a Connection Between Styes and Stress?

Styes can develop when the oil-producing gland in your eyelid becomes infected with bacteria. Stress can lower your immunity, which may be the connection.

Styes are painful, red bumps that form either on or inside the edge of your eyelid. While the bump may look red on lighter skin tones, it may appear another color on darker skin tones.

Although a stye is caused by a bacterial infection, there’s some evidence that shows a link between stress and an increased risk of infection. This may help explain why styes seem to be more common when you’re stressed.

Read on to learn more about the connection between styes and stress, as well as home remedies for styes and ways to prevent one.

What exactly is a stye?

A stye looks like a large pimple or a boil and is usually filled with pus. Styes typically form on the outside of the upper or lower eyelid. Sometimes they form inside the eyelid. Most of the time, a stye will develop in only one eye.

A stye, known clinically as a hordeolum, forms when an oil-producing gland in your eyelid becomes infected. These oil-producing glands are important because they help lubricate and protect your eyes.

Staphylococcus is the bacteria that usually causes a stye. The bacteria can come into contact with your eyelid if it’s on your hands and you rub your eyes. The bacteria can also cause an infection if it gets onto your contact lenses or other products that touch your eye or eyelids.

A stye is sometimes confused with a chalazion, which is a bump that tends to form a little farther back on the eyelid. A chalazion looks like a stye, but it’s not caused by a bacterial infection. Instead, a chalazion forms when an oil gland becomes clogged.

Can styes be caused by stress?

There are currently no scientific studies showing a direct link between stress and styes.

However, if you often get styes and they appear to be linked to periods of stress or low quality sleep, you’re not imagining things. Some ophthalmologists (eye specialists) report that insufficient sleep and stress raise the risk of styes.

One explanation for this may be that stress can weaken your immune system. This makes your body more susceptible to infections.

A 2017 study also found that stress hormones, such as norepinephrine, get converted into 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid (DHMA), which may help attract bacteria to areas of the body that are susceptible to infection.

Another side effect of stress is that it often disrupts sleep. Research has shown that when you don’t sleep well, it can lower your immunity. When you don’t get enough sleep, it can specifically affect the ability of the T cells in your body to fight off infection.

Also, if you’re tired, you may be less likely to follow good eye hygiene habits. For instance, you may not remove eye makeup properly before bedtime, or you may forget to wash your hands before touching your eyes.

Home remedies

Styes typically don’t require a trip to the doctor’s office. They usually get better within a few days without medical treatment.

While your stye is healing, it’s important not to rub it. Also, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before touching your eyes or washing your face. It’s best to avoid applying makeup or using contact lenses until the stye heals.

There are several home remedies that may help a stye heal. Some options include the following:

  • Gently apply a damp, warm compress against the affected eye to help drain the infection and ease inflammation.
  • Gently wash your eyelids with a tear-free shampoo.
  • Apply a saline solution to the affected eye to help break down bacterial membranes.
  • If the stye is painful, you can use over-the-counter pain medication, such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

How to prevent a stye

Although you cannot completely avoid getting a stye, the following tips can greatly reduce your risk of getting one.

Do’s Don’ts
DO wash your hands thoroughly with warm water before touching your eyes. DON’T touch or rub your eyes with unwashed hands.
DO only use contact lenses that have been thoroughly disinfected. DON’T reuse disposable contact lenses or sleep with them in your eyes.
DO try to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. DON’T use old or expired cosmetics.
DO change your pillowcase frequently. DON’T share cosmetics with others.
DO try to work on managing your stress with techniques like meditation, yoga and breathing exercises. DON’T leave eye makeup on overnight.

When to see a doctor

If your stye doesn’t start to improve with home treatments within a few days, or if the swelling or skin discoloration gets worse, be sure to see your eye doctor or visit a walk-in clinic or urgent care center.

Your doctor may be able to diagnose the problem by looking at your eye. Because a stye is caused by a bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotic eye drops or antibiotic cream to apply directly to the stye.

If that doesn’t work, or if you have other symptoms of an infection, you may also be prescribed antibiotics in pill form.

The bottom line

While there isn’t clinical evidence to prove that stress can cause a stye, research does show that stress can lower your immunity. When your immune system isn’t strong, you’re more likely to develop infections, like a stye.

To prevent a stye, try to keep your stress in check by getting enough sleep, exercising, or trying meditation or yoga. Also, avoid touching your eyes with your hands and practice good eye hygiene habits.

Source: Healthline; https://www.healthline.com/health/are-eye-styes-caused-by-stress

- A word from our sponsors -

spot_img

Most Popular

More from Author

นักวิจัยด้านความปลอดภัยพบช่องโหว่ในฐานข้อมูลของ DeepSeek

DeepSeek บริษัทสตาร์ทอัพด้านปัญญาประดิษฐ์ของจีน ถูกนักวิจัยด้านความปลอดภัยค้นพบช่องโหว่ ซึ่งเป็นข้อมูลการสนทนาและคีย์ลับ หรือ Secret Keys กว่า 1 ล้านรายการ สร้างความกังวลเกี่ยวกับความเป็นส่วนตัวและความปลอดภัยของข้อมูลผู้ใช้ นักวิจัยด้านความปลอดภัยจาก...

Painting found at garage sale is a Van Gogh, experts say

A painting bought at a garage sale in Minnesota is a...

- A word from our sponsors -

spot_img

Read Now

Mr Nguyen Thang Long – The dream of elevating young designers at Global Student Fashion Week

In the Vietnamese fashion industry, Mr. Nguyen Thang Long is not only known as a passionate founder but also as a strong source of inspiration for the younger generation of designers. With firm belief in the talent and creative potential of young people, he has tirelessly worked...

Miss &Mister Celebrity Vietnam 2024 – Truong Thuy Trang & Doan Bao An – Image Representatives of GSFW

Truong Thuy Trang and Doan Bao An, winners of Miss & Mister Celebrity Vietnam 2024, have been appointed as Image Representatives for Global Student Fashion Week (GSFW) 2025. This marks a significant step in their careers while promoting Vietnamese fashion on the international stage. Truong Thuy Trang -...

นักวิจัยด้านความปลอดภัยพบช่องโหว่ในฐานข้อมูลของ DeepSeek

DeepSeek บริษัทสตาร์ทอัพด้านปัญญาประดิษฐ์ของจีน ถูกนักวิจัยด้านความปลอดภัยค้นพบช่องโหว่ ซึ่งเป็นข้อมูลการสนทนาและคีย์ลับ หรือ Secret Keys กว่า 1 ล้านรายการ สร้างความกังวลเกี่ยวกับความเป็นส่วนตัวและความปลอดภัยของข้อมูลผู้ใช้ นักวิจัยด้านความปลอดภัยจาก Wiz เปิดเผยว่าพวกเขาได้ค้นพบฐานข้อมูลสำคัญของ DeepSeek ที่เปิดเผยสู่สาธารณะโดยไม่มีการป้องกัน โดยข้อมูลที่พบประกอบไปด้วยประวัติการสนทนาของผู้ใช้งาน คีย์สำหรับยืนยันตัวตน API บันทึกระบบ และข้อมูลสำคัญอื่นๆ ซึ่งสามารถเข้าถึงได้โดยไม่มีข้อจำกัดใดๆ ทีมวิจัยของ Wiz ระบุว่าพวกเขาสามารถค้นพบฐานข้อมูลนี้ได้ภายในไม่กี่นาที โดยไม่ต้องผ่านกระบวนการยืนยันตัวตน ข้อมูลดังกล่าวถูกเก็บอยู่ในระบบจัดการข้อมูลโอเพ่นซอร์สที่เรียกว่า ClickHouse และมีบันทึกมากกว่า 1 ล้านรายการ Wiz ระบุว่าช่องโหว่นี้อาจทำให้แฮกเกอร์สามารถควบคุมฐานข้อมูลได้ทั้งหมด รวมถึงอาจเพิ่มสิทธิ์การเข้าถึงในระบบของ DeepSeek ได้ ซึ่งอาจนำไปสู่การโจมตีระบบภายในของบริษัท หลังจาก Wiz แจ้งเตือนเรื่องช่องโหว่ DeepSeek ได้ดำเนินการปิดฐานข้อมูลทันที อย่างไรก็ตาม ยังไม่มีข้อมูลแน่ชัดว่ามีใครเข้าถึงข้อมูลนี้ไปก่อนหน้าหรือไม่ นักวิจัยของ Wiz ให้สัมภาษณ์กับ Wired ว่าไม่แปลกใจเลยหากมีคนอื่นพบฐานข้อมูลนี้ก่อนพวกเขา เพราะมันถูกเปิดกว้างและค้นพบได้ง่ายมาก นอกจากนี้ พวกเขายังตั้งข้อสังเกตว่าระบบของ...

Painting found at garage sale is a Van Gogh, experts say

A painting bought at a garage sale in Minnesota is a previously unknown portrait by Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh, according to a newly published expert analysis. It was made by Van Gogh during his stay at a psychiatric hospital in the south of France in 1889, experts commissioned...

Best red carpet looks at the 2025 Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are renowned for outlandish fashion. But on a night of tributes to first responders and victims of LA’s recent wildfires, many guests struck a comparatively restrained note at the Crypto.com arena on Sunday. The all-black trend seen at recent award ceremonies was embraced by everyone from Miley...

Meet the designer redefining lace for the 21st century

When British comedian and presenter Amelia Dimoldenberg stepped onto the red carpet to interview Sydney Sweeney in 2022, it only took a second for Dimoldenberg’s dress to reverse their roles. “This is amazing,” Sweeney said, reaching out to touch the presenters’ sleeveless black floor-length gown. The fabric —...

Anna Wintour takes off her iconic sunglasses for meeting with King Charles

Anna Wintour is rarely seen without her shades. But for a special occasion, she was prepared to break with tradition. The legendary Vogue editor-in-chief was presented with the Order of the Companions of Honour by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. She was appointed to the order in...

Grammys and FireAid concerts expected to raise over $120 million for LA fire relief

The music industry came together for an ambitious Los Angeles fire relief effort the week of the Grammy Awards that is estimated to have raised more than $120 million. Of that, $9 million raised during the Grammys telecast on Sunday night, a representative for the Recording Academy told...

Miles Teller saved his recently deceased grandfather’s watch from Palisades Fire… and not much else

Miles Teller’s home was destroyed when the Palisades Fire ripped through his Los Angeles neighborhood last month, but he grabbed one very important item just in the nick of time. Teller recounted his harrowing experience evacuating his home in the Pacific Palisades – an affluent neighborhood in LA’s Westside that...

Kim Kardashian’s ‘Nobody Wants This’ mixup caused Adrien Brody’s Instagram to go ‘crazy’

Adrien Brody’s Instagram recently got a major surge in activity, all thanks to Kim Kardashian. “The Brutalist” actor recounted to late night host Jimmy Fallon on Monday’s episode of “The Tonight Show” how Kardashian mixed him up with Adam Brody in a message on her Instagram story last month raving...

Harrison Ford is ‘still happy’ he made ‘Indiana Jones 5’ despite underwhelming box office

It takes a lot to make Harrison Ford regret doing a project. This is especially true when it comes to the classic “Indiana Jones” franchise, in which Ford starred as the titular character, including the franchise’s fifth installment, 2023’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” The movie grossed $60...

Ozzy Osbourne to reunite with Black Sabbath for farewell concert

Ozzy Osbourne has announced that the original members of Black Sabbath will play a concert together for the first time in 20 years. In a post on X, Osbourne revealed that he would reunite with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward to play one final show at Villa Park in...