How to Differentiate Types of Styes

There are two main types of styes. Styes commonly referred to as external styes occur on the outside of the eyelid, while internal styes are found on the interior of the eyelid. Both types of styes are caused by the same staphylococcus bacteria, but there are certain distinct factors to keep in mind to differentiate the types of styes.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Look for external styes on the eyelashes. External styes are the most common type of stye and are also sometimes referred to as hordeolum. They occur on the eyelash follicle, usually starting at the root and expanding from there, causing swelling of the eyelid.
2. Learn to recognize external styes by their appearances and symptoms. A small, red bump will usually appear on the eyelid and grow in size due to the pus that fills it. This type of stye is common in people who have diabetes and other conditions that cause the immune system to become weak, and in those who typically suffer from acne or other skin conditions.
3. Try to feel styes beneath the surface of your eyelids based on the amount of pain they are likely to cause. Due to their location under the eyelid, internal styes are not usually visible and therefore, are not possible to differentiate from external styes based solely on their appearances. Internal styes are found underneath the lower eyelid more often than external eyelids, which usually occur on the upper eyelid, and may cause portions or the entirety of the eyelid to become inflamed.
4. Keep in mind that internal styes tend to indicate infections that are more severe and are therefore usually more painful. They start out in the glands beneath the eyelid and cause increasing discomfort as they grow in size. Internal styes can lead to eye conditions that are more serious if they are not drained of the pus inside.
5. Differentiate between styes by the amount of time they typically take to heal. External styes will generally heal on their own within a few days, while internal styes will usually require a doctor's consultation to drain them. In both cases, they tend to heal easily with no permanent damage or scarring if they are cared for properly.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not remove your makeup or other cosmetics completely each time after use, the leftover residue could spread the bacteria that causes styes.
• Staphylococcus bacteria is often found in the nose, so avoid rubbing your eyes after you have been touching your nose or other parts of your face.