Three Styes on One Eyelid: When Stress and Rosacea Collide
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Three Styes on One Eyelid: When Stress and Rosacea Collide
A young woman came to my office recently with three persistent styes—all clustered on her left upper eyelid. Two were at the lash line, and one was higher up in the center of the lid. Despite trying warm compresses and prescription medications, none of the lesions had improved.
She had a history of styes, but they always resolved in the past. This time was different. She also noted that her rosacea was flaring. She had recently started a new job, moved apartments, and was experiencing high stress.
Why does stress matter? High stress raises cortisol levels, thickens oil in the eyelid glands, and slows immune response—making styes more likely and harder to resolve. Add in hormone fluctuations, poor sleep, and skin sensitivity from rosacea, and the risk increases further.
It’s not unlike acne. Some people get one pimple. Others get several. The distribution may vary, but the underlying stress and hormonal imbalance is often the same.
I performed steroid injections into all three styes. I also recommended our StyeRx Relief Drops and Foaming Cleanser to reduce inflammation and prevent new lesions—especially important during stressful times.
What to expect? Most patients with three styes need a follow-up. If a stye dose not resolve completely, it may require a second injection. She’ll return in a month for reassessment.