Eyelid Infection

If your eyelids are red and seem to be infected, there can be two reasons for it. It can either be a case of blepharitis or what is commonly known as a sty. While both result in inflammation of the eyelids, the causes for each are different. Blepharitis happens when the tiny glands in the eyelids are unable to lubricate the eye properly leading to a dry and itchy sensation. The symptoms will be a reddening of the skin on the eyelids, an extremely dry and itchy eye and a feeling of heaviness on the eyelids. Eye sty on the other hand is caused due to an infection or block in the sebaceous gland in the eyelid and at times due to an external agent like an inferior quality mascara or eyeliner. An eye sty will display symptoms such as a red lump on the eyelid, usually painful, a tender swelling of the eyelid, and a tiny yellow spot at the center of the swelling. There will be sensitivity to light in the event of both these afflictions and exposure of the eye to sun can be extremely painful. However, they can be treated quite easily from the comfort of your own home.

A diluted solution of a baby shampoo or any mild shampoo is an excellent remedy for blepharitis. Dilute some shampoo in 500 ml water and dab the solution on the eyelids very carefully using a ball of soft cotton. This loosens the scales on the skin in the event of blepharitis and greatly relieves the resulting irritation. After dabbing the solution, rinse your eyelids clean with cold water. Repeat this at least thrice a week and you will see a marked improvement. In case of an eye sty, hot or warm compresses are most advocated. Guava leaves warmed and placed on a cloth dipped in warm water is an excellent compress. It almost instantly reduces the redness and the swelling. Turmeric is another effective remedy. Mix half a teaspoon of turmeric in a cup of water, cool and strain the mixture several times through cheesecloth. Administer this solution in the form of eye drops three times a day to relieve the irritation. Another effective remedy is boiling coriander seeds in water. Use one teaspoon of coriander seeds in a cup of water and boil for a long time. Cool and strain the liquid and wash your eye with it 3 to 4 times a day.

Eyelids are an extremely small organ of the body, but they have an extremely important role to play. They not only protect the eyes from wind, dust, sunlight, and other elements but also have the important function of keeping the eyes moist. The eyelids produce oils that are secreted right into the eyes, keeping them lubricated. The lubrication allows the movement of the eyes and also protects the germs from getting into our eyes. An eyelid infection usually is a result of the blockage of an oil gland in the eyelid. When there are germs in the areas around the eyes, they can easily slip into the eyelids and clog the glands, causing infection. An infected eyelid is usually inflamed. They are painful to move and are also extremely sore. Infection in the eyelid usually begins from the eyelashes. Infection on the eyelid is characterized by redness, inflammation, itching, and oozing. In rare cases, cysts may get formed on the eye. If there is a cyst forming around the eye, an eye cyst treatment may be necessary. There are various conditions that may result in an infection of the eyelid. Some of these are as follows.

An eye stye is caused by a bacterial infection of the hair follicles in the eyelids. The infected hair follicle can cause the inflammation of the entire eye. Initially, a bump is formed on the smooth surface of the eyelid. The bump may look similar to a small pimple. However, with time, the bump grows in size and may become painful to the touch. The bump also becomes larger and filled with fluids. Spots, either white or yellow in color, can be seen on the pus-filled cyst on the eyelid. The bump can grow in size within a few days of first forming. Such kind of an eyelid infection, or a stye, can be very painful and irritating to the outer membrane of the eyes. There can be excessive tearing in the eyes, redness, and also sensitivity towards touch as well as light.

Infection in the eyelid can also be caused form a condition known as blepharitis. Blepharitis is a condition in which the tiny oil glands of the eyes cannot lubricate it well. Blepharitis is a condition that not only persists in the eyelids but also extends to the eyelashes. The eyelids and the whites of the eyes can also be infected due to this condition. Blepharitis is caused by an infection. Allergies and diabetes are some of the other conditions that cause infection in the eyes. You may feel an itching and burning sensation in the corner of your eyes. There is also a constant irritation and redness on the skin around the eyes.
Blepharitis is one of the most common reasons for heaviness in eyelids, and the natural cure of blepharitis is to cure the infection that causes the condition. Apart from the heaviness, the infection also causes formation of greasy flakes around the eyes, especially after waking up in the morning. You will also feel sensitivity towards light and itching in the eyes. The treatment of blepharitis is very difficult, and the infection may take more than a year to cure completely.

Typically, an eyelid infection is itchy. Cellulitis is a very severe infectious condition that causes inflammation of the eyes, along with a lot of itching and burning. Cellulitis is identified by a lot of inflammation around the eye area. The region of the eyes is so swollen that the inflammation extends towards the face as well. There is a lot of discharge that runs from the infected eye. The eyelid may turn completely red in color and remain burning hot. The eye region may become very tender to touch. If the infection becomes serious, it can affect the eye and cause vision loss as well.

Eyelid infection and swelling requires treatment. Usually, for small infections like styes, treatments are not necessary. Such infections can be treated by using home remedies. To treat eyelid infections, simply warm some water and soak a clean washcloth in it. Now apply this washcloth to your infected eye. The warmth of the water improves the blood circulation in the eye and also helps bring it to a head. This helps in treating the stye more quickly. Eyelid infection treatment is not always very elaborate. However, if the skin breaks while trying to treat the infection, it is important to go to a doctor and take the proper medical treatment. If the skin gets broken, it is important to drain the fluids and keep them from seeping into the eye. Clean the broken skin thoroughly and allow a medical practitioner to dress the wound. If the infection becomes very painful and the pain does not subside even after the home remedy, you may be in need of antibiotic treatment.

There are other ways of soothing the burning and itching sensations in the eye, but none of these are long term solutions. For a long-term treatment of the infection of your eye, eye drops and antibiotic ointments will have to be used. An infected eyelid cyst may have to be removed surgically. If the cyst is benign, it can be left untreated, but in most cases, the cyst is infectious and there is danger of it spreading to the rest of the eye. If the cyst tends to grow in size, removing it through a surgery is important in order for it to be treated completely. Infected eyelid follicles and glands are more difficult to treat. The treatment of blepharitis itself involves the regular washing of eyelids. You should ideally wash your eyes regularly if you have blepharitis, because the eyelids will not be able to moisturize themselves. The doctor will prescribe you an antibiotic ointment that can be applied to treat both cellulitis and blepharitis.

In some severe cases of infected eyelids, the patient may need to be admitted to a hospital, and he/she may even get an IV drip of antibiotics and other medications. However, such scenarios are rare and required only in certain extremely serious conditions.