Are Styes Contagious? Causes, Prevention, and Treatment

Learn about the causes, risk factors, prevention, and treatment of styes, and discover whether these painful eyelid bumps are truly contagious.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 26, 2025

Learn about the causes, risk factors, prevention, and treatment of styes, and discover whether these painful eyelid bumps are truly contagious.

Styes are common, painful bumps that appear on the eyelid and raise concerns about eye health, discomfort, and the risk of spreading infection. This comprehensive guide provides clear answers about whether styes are contagious, what causes them, how to treat them, and—most importantly—how you can prevent them from developing or recurring.

What Is a Stye?

A stye is a red, painful bump that forms near the edge of the eyelid, typically at the base of an eyelash or inside the eyelid. Medically known as a hordeolum, it is caused by a localized infection or inflammation, most often from the Staphylococcus bacteria. Styes can occur on the upper or lower eyelid, and while they are uncomfortable, they are generally harmless and tend to resolve on their own.

External stye: Appears at the base of an eyelash; the most common type.
Internal stye: Forms inside the eyelid due to infection of an oil-producing gland.

Most styes appear suddenly and may be accompanied by swelling, tenderness, and sometimes discharge. Although they can be alarming, they rarely cause vision problems or indicate a serious eye condition.

Are Styes Contagious?

Styes themselves are rarely contagious, but the bacteria that cause them can spread between people or from one part of your body to another via direct contact or contaminated objects.

Direct contact: You might develop a stye after touching a stye, then touching your own eye without washing your hands.
Shared items: Using contaminated towels, pillowcases, or washcloths can transfer bacteria.

Though transmitting the infection from person to person is possible, it is uncommon. Good hand and face hygiene are the best defenses to keep styes from spreading or recurring.

How Do You Get a Stye?

Styes typically develop after bacteria infect the oil glands near the eyelashes. The most common culprit is Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium normally present on human skin and inside the nose. If these bacteria invade the oil glands around the eyelashes (known as the meibomian glands), they cause inflammation, resulting in a stye.

Common ways the bacteria can infect your eye include:

Rubbing or touching your eyes with unwashed hands
Using expired or contaminated eye makeup
Leaving makeup on overnight
Having skin or eyelid conditions that induce inflammation

Who Is at Risk for Developing Styes?

Anyone can develop a stye, but some groups are at higher risk due to behavioral habits or underlying conditions:

Children: More likely to touch their eyes and less likely to practice good hygiene
People with blepharitis: A chronic eyelid inflammation linked to blocked oil glands increases risk
People with skin conditions: Such as rosacea, acne, or dandruff
Individuals with diabetes: Increased susceptibility to infections
Those with a history of styes: Previous styes indicate higher recurrence
People who use old or shared cosmetics

Other risk enhancers include high cholesterol (which can block glands), hormonal changes, and poor eye hygiene habits.

Symptoms of a Stye

Styes generally present as a localized red, painful bump on the eyelid, but they can also cause several related symptoms:

Swelling of the eyelid
Yellow or white spot at the center (may contain pus)
Crustiness around the eyelid or lashes
Eye tearing or watering
Sensitivity to light
A feeling that something is in your eye
Itching, burning, or scratchiness in the eye

In many cases, the stye may burst and drain on its own, providing relief. Most styes resolve within a week with minimal intervention.

Diagnosing a Stye

Healthcare providers usually recognize styes by their appearance and symptoms; no elaborate tests are normally required. During an eye examination, the healthcare provider will visually inspect the eyelid and surrounding area, and, if needed, ask about the patient’s health history and symptom duration. In rare cases—such as persistent or recurrent styes—a more thorough eye exam or additional testing may be recommended to rule out underlying conditions.

How Are Styes Treated?

Most styes will resolve on their own in 7–10 days, often requiring only simple home care:

Warm compresses: Applying a clean, warm washcloth to the affected eyelid several times a day helps relieve pain, encourage drainage, and speed up healing.
Eyelid hygiene: Gently cleansing the eyelid with mild soap (baby shampoo diluted with water) or special eyelid scrubs can prevent further irritation or infection.
Avoid touching/squeezing: Never try to pop or squeeze a stye; this increases infection risk.
Discontinue eye makeup and contact lenses: Avoid cosmetics and contacts until the stye heals.

Over-the-counter pain relief (e.g., acetaminophen) can be used for discomfort. In most cases, antibiotic ointments or drops are not necessary unless the infection doesn’t heal, spreads, or produces pus. For severe, persistent, or recurrent styes, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics, drain the stye, or refer you to an eye specialist.

When to See a Doctor

The stye does not improve after a week
The swelling or redness spreads beyond the eyelid
Vision becomes affected
There is significant pain or bleeding
Recurrent styes are developing

How to Prevent Styes

Practicing good eyelid hygiene and healthy habits can significantly reduce your risk. Effective prevention tips include:

Wash your hands before touching your face or eyes
Avoid sharing towels or pillowcases
Replace eye makeup every 3–6 months
Remove all makeup before going to bed
Keep eyelids clean, especially if you have blepharitis or oily skin
Do not touch or rub your eyes excessively
Wash pillowcases and towels regularly

These preventive strategies are especially important if you are prone to styes or have any of the risk factors described above.

Complications of Styes

Most styes heal on their own with few problems, but complications can arise, especially if the stye is squeezed or if it doesn’t drain properly. Possible complications include:

Chalazion: If the infection or inflammation persists, a hard, painless lump may develop—this is called a chalazion.
Preseptal cellulitis: The infection can sometimes spread to the tissues around the eye, leading to a more serious infection that requires medical attention.
Recurrent styes: Several styes over time might suggest an underlying chronic problem.

Stye vs. Chalazion: How to Tell the Difference

Feature	Stye	Chalazion
Pain	Usually painful	Usually painless
Location	Base of eyelash or inside eyelid	Usually farther back on eyelid
Cause	Bacterial infection (commonly Staphylococcus)	Blocked oil gland, no infection
Treatment	Often resolves with warm compresses; antibiotics if needed	Warm compresses, steroids, possibly drainage for persistent lumps

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are styes contagious to others?

No, styes themselves are rarely contagious. However, if the stye is caused by bacteria, these microbes can be transferred through direct contact, which may—though rarely—lead to infection in another person.

Can a stye spread to the other eye?

It is uncommon but possible for bacteria to spread from one eyelid to another, especially if you touch or rub the affected eye and then touch the other eye without washing your hands.

Can you prevent styes?

Yes, practicing good hand and eyelid hygiene, removing makeup before bed, and avoiding the sharing of towels and eye cosmetics reduce your risk significantly.

Do styes require antibiotics?

Most styes do not need antibiotics and heal with home care. If symptoms persist, worsen, or if the infection spreads, consult a healthcare provider, as antibiotics may be prescribed.

Is it safe to wear contact lenses or makeup with a stye?

No, you should avoid contact lenses and makeup until the stye has fully healed to prevent irritation or the spread of bacteria.

When should I be worried about a stye?

If you experience severe pain, vision changes, spreading redness, or if the stye doesn’t begin to improve after several days, contact your healthcare provider promptly.

Key Takeaways

Styes are rarely contagious, but the bacteria that cause them can spread through contact.
Good hygiene is the best way to prevent styes and avoid transmission.
Most styes resolve on their own with simple home care.
Seek medical advice for persistent, worsening, or recurrent styes.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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