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The Daily Insight

What causes a white stye?

Author

Matthew Wilson

Updated on March 03, 2026

Styes can be caused by inflammation or infection of the eyelash follicle. There are small oil glands that sit around the eyelid and drain through ducts into the eyelashes. If something clogs the duct, the oil can’t drain and backs up into the glands. The gland becomes swollen and inflamed, causing the stye.

How long does a white stye last?

It usually lasts for two to five days. In some cases a stye may last for a week or longer. You can get a stye on your upper or lower eyelid. It usually forms on the outer side of the eyelid, but it can form on the inner side of the eyelid as well.

What does an eye stye look like?

What Is a Stye? If you have a small red bump, sometimes with a white head, inside or outside your eyelid, it’s probably a stye. It looks like a pimple, and it might be sore. But it’s not usually serious and won’t affect your vision.

Is a stye hard or soft?

It’s a bump on the eyelid that grows when an oil gland gets clogged. It can sometimes start as a stye that hardens over time. Unlike a stye, it’s usually painless and feels rubbery with a hard bump inside.

Do styes have discharge?

Stye: A stye could be the problem if discharge is accompanied by a lump on the eyelid. When eyelid glands become blocked, they may fill with pus and form styes. These can leak mucous but will often clear up of their own accord.

Can a stye be a white bump?

Symptoms. The way a stye develops includes: A painful, red and tender lump develops on the eyelid. The lump gets larger and may develop a white or yellow top.

What are the different types of styes?

Two types of styes can form on the eye, including: 1 An external stye forms on the base of your eyelash. 2 An internal stye forms within a small oil gland inside your eyelid and is commonly caused by a meibomian gland infection. More

What does it mean when a stye comes out?

A stye is a red, sore lump near the edge of the eyelid. A stye (also called a hordeolum) is a small, red, painful lump that grows from the base of your eyelash or under the eyelid. Most styes are caused by a bacterial infection. There are two kinds of styes:

What does a sty look like on your eyelid?

It is similar to a boil or a pimple and is often painful. A sty is a red, painful lump near the edge of your eyelid that may look like a boil or a pimple. Sties are often filled with pus. A sty usually forms on the outside of your eyelid, but sometimes it can form on the inner part of your eyelid.

What is the difference between a STIE and a sty?

Sties are often filled with pus. A sty usually forms on the outside of your eyelid. But sometimes it can form on the inner part of your eyelid. In most cases, a sty will begin to disappear on its own in a couple days.