Mascara, a cosmetic eyelash and eyebrow styling aid, has been used for decades by women to add extra length and volume to their natural lashes. But it’s no secret that mascara can get a little messy. If you aren’t careful and accidentally poke your eye, you could get irritation around the lash line. But can mascara cause a stye?
Mascara can cause a stye if it is not applied properly or if the mascara is expired and contains bacteria. When applying mascara, it is important to ensure the brush is clean and to avoid touching the eyelid with the brush. Read on to learn more.
What Is a Stye?
Styes are small, painful bumps that develop on the edge of an eyelid. They’re caused by inflamed oil glands in and around the eyelashes or hair follicles. A stye is similar to a pimple, but it’s not contagious.
It is a localized eyelid infection caused by the same bacteria that cause pimples. It can occur on any part of your eyelid, but it most often occurs at the base of an eyelash.
Styes can be red, swollen, and painful. The clear or yellowish pus from them can be thick or thin. Because they’re so close to your eye, styes can be difficult to treat without a prescription for antibiotic ointment.
Styes are not contagious, and they aren’t serious. However, they can be painful and annoying. They also tend to recur if they’re not properly treated.
What Are the Causes of Stye?
The most common cause of a stye is an infection from bacteria called hordeola. The bacteria make their way into the skin around your oil glands and start to grow there. Other infections, such as viruses or fungi, can cause a stye. It can also be caused by an allergic reaction to something touching or rubbing your eye.
A stye usually appears as a small red lump just below your eyelashes on either side of your nose or above your eye. The lump may be painful and tender to the touch. You may notice that it looks like an insect bite or pimple. It can be quite painful, especially if you have to open your eyes wide while washing them or putting in contact lenses.
Is It OK to Wear Mascara With a Stye?
It is generally not recommended to wear mascara when you have a stye, as it can further irritate the affected area and potentially prolong the healing process. Mascara can increase the risk of spreading the infection to other parts of the eye or other people.
It’s best to avoid wearing any makeup, including mascara, until the stye has completely healed. Additionally, it’s vital to maintain good eyelid hygiene and to clean your mascara brush and other makeup tools regularly to prevent the growth of bacteria. Once the stye has healed, you can return to wearing mascara, but apply it carefully and remove it thoroughly each night.
How Long After a Stye Can I Wear Mascara?
You can start wearing your mascara as soon as the stye is cleared off. However, you should avoid using any eye makeup until then because this could spread germs and cause further irritation. Mascara is generally safe to use as soon as your eye infection has cleared up, but you should be careful about wearing it until the area has completely healed.
It is not advisable to wear makeup during the healing process because it irritates the eye and worsens the condition. However, if you don’t want to go out without makeup, use an oil-free or water-based foundation and powder that does not contain oil or alcohol.
Why Do I Get Styes After Mascara?
There are a few reasons why you may be getting styes after wearing mascara. One possibility is that the mascara is expired or contaminated with bacteria, which can lead to infection when applied to the eye area. Another possibility is that you are not properly cleaning your mascara brush or other makeup tools, allowing bacteria to grow on them.
Additionally, if you have sensitive skin or pre-existing conditions such as blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids) or seborrheic dermatitis, using mascara can further irritate your eyelids, making them more susceptible to infection.
Another reason for getting styes after mascara is that the mascara is not suitable for your eyes, the ingredients of mascara are not compatible with your eyes, and it can cause irritation and redness. Also, if you don’t remove mascara properly, it can dry, block the eyelid glands, and cause styes.
Do I Need to Throw Away My Mascara After a Stye?
It is unnecessary to throw away your mascara after a stye, but it is important to take steps to prevent future infections. If you suspect that your mascara is expired or contaminated with bacteria, it would be best to discard it and purchase a new one. If your mascara is still within its expiration date and you suspect it is not the cause of the stye, you can still use it after it has completely healed.
To prevent future infections, it is important to clean your mascara brush or other makeup tools regularly, ideally after each use. This will help to remove any bacteria or debris that may have accumulated on them.
5 Precautions to Avoid Getting Stye From Applying Mascara
Here are some tips for safely using mascara without getting stye or any other infection:
1. Wash your hands before applying mascara
This will help prevent bacteria from spreading from one part of your body to another, like from your hands to your eyes, which can cause an infection.
2. Don’t use old makeup products
Do not use old products, especially if they’ve been sitting in your medicine cabinet for months. The longer mascara sits unused, the more likely it is to have grown harmful bacteria that can cause eye or eyelash infections.
3. Use disposable mascara wands
Using disposable mascara wands will prevent bacterial contamination from entering the mascara tube. You can use these disposable wands as often as possible before discarding them. Safely throw them into the trash bin without touching them with your hands again.
4. Clean your brushes and sponges regularly
Cleaning your brushes and sponges regularly will help prevent bacterial growth on them, which could lead to infection when applied to your eyes again. Wash your brushes using warm water at least once a week (or more often if needed), and let them dry completely before using them again.
5. Apply antibiotics
Apply antibiotic ointment before using a new mascara wand and after using an old one. This can help prevent a stye from developing on the eyelid margins (the edge of the eyelid) where bacteria can get trapped under the lashes. If necessary, apply antibiotic ointment several times a day until your stye heals.
Does Makeup Cause Stye?
Makeup, including mascara, can be a potential cause of styes. A stye is a bacterial infection of an oil gland in the eyelid, and makeup can trap bacteria and oil around the eyelashes, leading to infection. Additionally, if makeup is expired or contaminated with bacteria, it can increase the risk of infection when applied to the eye area.
Proper hygiene is crucial to prevent styes from makeup; cleaning your makeup brush or other tools regularly, ideally after each use will help remove any bacteria or debris that may have accumulated on them. Make sure to use fresh, clean makeup and remove it thoroughly each night before bed. Also, avoid sharing makeup with others and use a gentle, fragrance-free makeup remover.
Takeaway
There you have it, why and how mascara can cause stye on your eyelid. Mascaras are safe to use when properly done, but you are at risk when not. Follows the precautionary tips to use your mascara without worry safely.
