Styes During Pregnancy: What Should I Do?
Styes during pregnancy are a fairly common condition. In fact, they are already one of the most frequent causes of consulting the ophthalmologist, especially in women between 40 and 60 years old.
It seems that its incidence during pregnancy is higher, since at this stage the immune system is somewhat weakened. The entire body of the woman undergoes numerous changes to allow the development of the fetus.
What is most worrying is that many of the medications that are used regularly are contraindicated for pregnant women. Therefore, it is not necessary to resort to self-medication and it must be intervened by professionals. You want to know more?
What are styes during pregnancy?
Styes during pregnancy, as in any other stage, are a red bump, similar to a pimple, that forms on the edge of one of the eyelids. Most are on the outer edge of it, although they can also appear on the inner edge. Like pimples, styes also contain pus.
Its cause is the obstruction of one of the sebaceous glands that are present in this area. They produce sebum and can accumulate dead cells. Consequently, bacteria tend to proliferate inside and an inflammatory reaction occurs, which is the cause of styes. The bacteria most associated with this pathology is Staphylococcus aureus .
How do styes show up during pregnancy?
Styes, as we have mentioned, look quite like a pimple or pimple, but on the eyelids . They are a red, inflamed lump that is painful and even itchy. Many times, they cause constant eye tearing.
Similarly, some people experience increased sensitivity to light and a sensation similar to having sand in the eye. The normal thing is that in pregnancy they disappear on their own, in a couple of days. This lump ruptures and all the accumulated pus is drained out.
However, the discomfort can be very intense. In addition, during pregnancy it is also common for the eyelids to be more swollen in the morning, so it can be more uncomfortable than normal.
How can they be prevented?
It is true that the development of styes during pregnancy is influenced by the state of the immune system. However, it is not the only factor involved in its pathogenesis. For example, the use of cosmetics and makeup increases the risk of suffering them or slows down their healing.
Hence, they recommend using cosmetic products in good condition and always remove them before going to sleep. Another important factor is the fact of touching the eyes without having clean hands, since they can contribute to the transmission of microorganisms.
Whether it’s to scratch your eye, put on contact lenses, or any other gesture, it’s important to have your hands washed properly. In addition, in the case of wearing contact lenses, they must also be well preserved.
What is the treatment of styes during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, there are some considerations to make when treating styes. Due to the characteristics of this stage, many drugs are contraindicated because they can cause alterations in the fetus or in the development of the pregnancy.
In fact, even if the medicine is given by eye drops, it can also cross the placenta and harm the baby. For this reason, the first thing is always to consult with a doctor before using any therapeutic option.
The truth is that most styes disappear on their own after a few days. In this way, what is usually recommended are some simple home measures that allow to alleviate the symptoms. For example, apply a warm compress to the eyelid several times a day.
This helps the pores to open and the contents of the stye to drain little by little. On the other hand, the ideal is to avoid touching the eyes or wearing contact lenses until it disappears. You should not try to pop styes because it can make the infection worse.
Seeking care is important
When styes occur at any time during pregnancy, it is best to see an ophthalmologist first to determine a safe and effective treatment. Keep in mind that self-medication poses a risk.
In some cases it may be necessary to take antibiotic medications and local cortisone. However, when taking any drug at this stage, do not overlook its risks to the development of the fetus. Consulting the doctor will be the most indicated in any case.
