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Sty - Stye


Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

A stye is a bacterial infection of one of the hair follicles of the eyelashes or one the small glands near the inner corner of the eye.

What is going on in the body?

A stye occurs when bacteria infect one of the hair follicles of the eyelashes or one of the glands near the inner corner of the eye. Ninety five percent of the time, the infection is caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.

What are the causes and risks of the infection?

Ninety five percent of the time, a stye is caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Other bacteria may be involved less often. Risk factors that increase a person's chance of developing a stye include the following:

  • chronic disease or poor health
  • chronic eyelid inflammations or infections, such as blepharitis
  • diabetes
  • elevated blood lipids, including high cholesterol
  • history of styes
  • poor hygiene or an unclean environment
  • skin conditions, such as seborrheic dermatitis