How to Treat an Infected Eyelash

Do you have a red, swollen, tender bump above your eyelash line? If so, you may have an infected eyelash follicle, also known as a sty. This type of infection occurs when bacteria from the skin clogs a follicle gland. According to MedicineNet.com, 90 to 95 percent of the time, the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is behind this type of infection.



Although a sty may look and feel awful, the majority of sties are harmless and can easily be treated at home with a warm compress.

Things You'll Need

• Soap
• Washcloth

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Instructions

• 1

  Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

• 2

  Hold a clean washcloth underneath running warm water. When the cloth is soaked thoroughly, remove it and wring the water out.

• 3

  Close the affected eye and place the washcloth over top of it.

• 4

  Hold the washcloth over the eye for 10 minutes. If the washcloth starts to feel cool, re-wet it with warm water.

• 5

  Repeat this process four to six times a day, until the sty is healed. You should see improvement within a day or two.