Editing Stye (section)

==Prevention==
Stye prevention is closely related to proper hygiene. Proper [[hand washing]] can reduce the risks of developing not only styes, but also many other types of infections.

Upon awakening, application of a warm washcloth to the eyelids for one to two minutes may be beneficial in decreasing the occurrence of styes by liquefying the contents of the [[oil glands]] of the eyelid and thereby preventing blockage.<ref name="MedicineHealthE">{{cite web |url=http://www.emedicinehealth.com/sty/page13_em.htm#sty_prevention |title=Prevention |access-date=2010-04-06 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410064556/http://www.emedicinehealth.com/sty/page13_em.htm#sty_prevention |archive-date=2010-04-10 }}</ref>

To prevent styes, cosmetics and cosmetic eye tools should not be shared among people. Like with all infections, regular hand washing is essential, and the eyes should not be rubbed or touched with unclean hands. Contaminated eye makeup should be discarded and sharing of washcloths or face towels should be curtailed, to avoid spreading the infection between individuals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visionweb.com/content/consumers/dev_consumerarticles.jsp?RID=34|title=VisionWeb|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909005133/http://www.visionweb.com/content/consumers/dev_consumerarticles.jsp?RID=34|archive-date=September 9, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/ask_the_doctor/styes.shtml|title=BBC - Health - Ask the doctor - Styes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201125007/http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/ask_the_doctor/styes.shtml|archive-date=February 1, 2010}}</ref> Breaking the stye may spread bacteria contained in the pus and should be avoided.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/news/external/2018/08/30/12/24/health-tip-treat-your-sty|title=Merck Manual - Treat Your Sty|access-date=2020-07-19|archive-date=2020-07-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719144949/https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/news/external/2018/08/30/12/24/health-tip-treat-your-sty|url-status=dead}}</ref>