Do Tea Bags Help with Styes? Myths, Facts & Professional Advice

You're asking: "Do tea bags help with styes?" In this blog post, let's chat about why tea bags are a popular home remedy, potential benefits, potential risks, and my methods for properly cleaning and draining a stye (aka hordeolum).

 

 

 

 

Understanding the Tea Bag Remedy

Tea bags are a popular natural, home remedy for styes, mostly because they are readily available and already in your kitchen cabinet. Here are some other reasons why:

• Warm Compress Benefits:
  • The heat of a warm/hot tea bag can provide the same benefits as a warm compress, helping to promote drainage of stye debris. Always wrist check the temperature before applying to the eye area.
• Antioxidant Properties:
  • Tea contains antioxidants that may help reduce inflammation. Chamomile tea is a popular choice here for it's calming effect.
• Antiseptic Properties:
  • Black teas may have antiseptic properties that may help reduce bacterial load. This tends to be more effective for styes in very early onset, not styes that are flared up and needing antibiotics.
• Potential Risks:
  • The only real concern with tea bags is that it contains organic matter which can potentially cause a secondary fungal infection to already comprised eyelid tissue. I've had to deal with a few fungal infections of the eye (not common) which is very scary in cases where the patient also is a contact lens wearer. A fungal infection of the eye can be sight threatening. 

 

 

 

Professional Perspective on Tea Bag Use

I think the tea bag method is a good home remedy to use temporarily before seeing your optometrist. Remember to always wash your eyes right after using a tea bag on a stye to prevent a secondary eye infection. 

• Temporary Relief Only: A stye involves bacteria and needs antibiotics. If the inflammatory reaction kicks in from the infection, a tea bag is usually just worthless and a waste of precious time.
• Proper Wash Up: Always wash with a gentle eye cleanser after using a tea bag to prevent a secondary infection. I cannot stress this enough! Use one of my eyelid foaming cleansers: blue label or purple label.
• Not a Cure: Once you see your optometrist and get your eye care routine to properly clean and drain your stye including medicated eye drops - stop the tea bag.
• Seek Professional Advice: If a stye persists or worsens, it's crucial to consult an optometrist rather than relying solely on home remedies. Pre-septal cellulitis can sneak up on you and its vision threatening. Don't mess this part up!

 

 

 

How to Clean a Stye With Confidence

For a more step-wise, comprehensive method to stye management and prevention, check out my Stye Cleansing System. I invented this system and formulated all the cleansers for maximum success. My patients swear by it and so should you. Shop here: Stye Cleansing System. Read the TUTORIAL here.