What is Chalazion? Symptoms, Causes, Treatments & More

A chalazion (orchard cyst) is a small painful lump just underneath your eyelid that can feel like a pimple. It’s caused by a blocked oil gland and is more common in people with allergies or eczema. They’re usually not serious, but can take weeks to resolve on their own, depending on how big they get.

Read on to learn more about what causes them and how you can treat them quickly at home. That being said, if you find yourself wishing for the pain to go away faster, there are some great over-the-counter remedies for reducing their appearance quickly and effectively. These include natural remedies as well as some professional-strength products that can be found at any drugstore.

What is Chalazion?

A chalazion is a small painful lump just underneath your eyelid that can feel like a pimple. It’s caused by a blocked oil gland and is more common in people with allergies or eczema. They’re usually not serious, but can take weeks to resolve on their own, depending on how big they get.

At the root of the swelling is an inflamed eyelid gland, called the meibomian gland. It’s responsible for producing the oils that keep your eyelids healthy. If the gland gets blocked, the oils can’t flow freely out of the gland, which causes the gland to swell, become inflamed, and form a cyst.

How to Treat a Chalazion at Home

• In the beginning, you may not even realize that you have a chalazion as it’s often mistaken for an allergic reaction. Once you spot the swollen, reddish.
• looking bump, though, you’ll immediately know what it is.
• If the swelling is minor, you’ll likely be able to treat it at home with either a warm cloth or a cold compress. To use a warm compress, soak a clean washcloth in hot water (not boiling) and place it on the affected area for a few minutes.
• To use a cold compress, put an ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables such as peas or corn on the area for a few minutes.
• Since chalazions don’t respond well to over-the-counter eye drops and ointments, don’t use them on a chalazion.

1. Using Heat

• A warm compress is proven to make chalazion pain go away faster if you use it every day for a few minutes.

There are many different ways to apply heat to an eye, including:

• A warm washcloth.
• A heated eye pillow.
• A microwavable heat pack.
• A warm compress.
• While applying heat to an irritated eye is helpful, make sure it’s not too hot — otherwise, it could actually cause further irritation and be counterproductive.

2. Using Cold

• A cold compress is also helpful in reducing chalazion pain and swelling.
• If you’re using a cold compress on a chalazion, it’s a good idea to alternate between using a cold compress and a warm compress.

3. Using Eye Drops and Ointment

• If you’re seeing a doctor about a chalazion, they’ll likely recommend using eye drops and ointment.
• They help speed up the process of the chalazion healing.
• The most common eye drops for chalazions are antibiotics and steroid eye drops.

4. Using a Natural Product

• A chalazion is the perfect spot to treat with a natural remedy.
• Chamomile tea is one of the best home remedies for chalazion since it has anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce the swelling and pain associated with this condition.
• You can either drink warm chamomile tea, or you can apply it as a compress for the eye area.

Bottom Line

Chalazions are annoying but benign. They’re caused by a buildup of oil in the eyelid and usually appear on the outside of the upper or lower eyelid. Symptoms include pain and swelling around the eye, itching, and a lump under the eyelid.

Chalazions typically resolve on their own within a few weeks, but you can speed up the process by applying heat and cold compresses, and using chamomile tea as a compress.

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