How to Quickly Get Rid of a Painful Eyelid Bump in 3 Simple Steps

Your eyes are a delicate part of your body and needed for its vital functioning as well. Without  clear vision, you will find it very difficult to perform your daily activities as they arise. We depend heavily on our vision to help us care for ourselves and to live a fulfilled life.

However, as important as the eye is to the body, it is not without problems. There are so many factors that can blur the vision of the eyes and cause several complications. This could escalate into other severe health challenges if not treated on time. One such condition which can be problematic and lead to further issues are painful eyelid bumps.

What is a Painful Eyelid Bump?

These are small, tender, red bumps outside or inside your eyelid. It usually resembles a sore or a pimple on your eyelid, and they're most often the result of a bacterial infection.

However, it is not a serious medical condition and cannot affect your vision unless it goes untreated for a long time.   With that being said, if you notice your whole eyelid becoming inflamed and the pain is getting worse, get it checked out immediately by your eye doctor.

Symptoms You May Experience

A painful eyelid bump usually occurs around the edge of the eyelid and is mostly recognized by an inflamed bump and pain on the eyelid. Aside from a bump, which is the most noticeable symptom, there are other signs to know that you have this condition, which are as follows:

• Inflammation and redness of the eyelid region
• Itchiness of the eyelid, around the area of the bump
• You may experience tenderness of the eye and on the eyelid
• A crust may develop around the affected eyelid
• A mucousy discharge may appear around the area
• An increase in tear production
• It may look like a pimple on your eyelid

This condition can be genuinely uncomfortable and even become very painful in some cases. Even though painful eyelid bumps can usually clear up on their own within a couple of days, most people desire faster relief of the symptoms they are experiencing – and obviously, they want the bump that has developed to go away more quickly.

Luckily, many home remedies can be used to help speed up your recovery, reduce the inflammation and pain caused by the bump, and support your overall eye health.

Here  is a simple 3 step process that is best repeated four times per day, but at least twice a day: 

Step 1: Warm Compress

Purchase a commercially available warm compress and heat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. Ensure the eye mask is not too hot or even too cold.  Check the temperature on your wrist. It should be just warm to the touch and should not burn the inside of your wrist.  

Alternatively, you can use a clean sock with rice in it (emphasis on the word CLEAN). 

After heating, use it to compress the eye gently for about 10-20 minutes.

This will cause the clogging on the eyelid to dissolve slowly.  Most clogs in the glands of the eyelids are caused by hardened oils, which will start to melt and express slowly when the oil is heated (DO NOT TRY TO POP A PAINFUL EYELID BUMP). 

We recommend using the Heyedrate Warm Compress Eye Mask. You will likely find that a mask is much easier to use than a sock with rice or a warm washcloth, and it holds heat much more easily and for a longer period of time. 

Step 2: GENTLE Eyelid Massage to the Area

Using either a Q-tip or your clean fingers, gently massage the eyelid area where the bump is.  Do NOT press too hard and risk popping the bump. This should not be painful!

Here are two techniques listed below, and check out this video to see me demonstrate it. 

USING A Q-TIP

Spray Heyedrate Lid & Lash Cleanser on the Q-tip to dampen it. 

While looking in the mirror roll the the Q-tip starting away from your eye and moving toward your eye.  Do not use too much pressure.  A little goes a long way. 

Once you've done that, run the dampened Q-tip across your lid margin to possibly unclog any clogged glands in the eyelid. 

USING YOUR FINGER

This is essentially the same.  Spray your fingers and eyelids with Heyedrate Lid and Lash Cleanser.  Roll toward your eye and gently over the bump as needed.

Repeat a few times.

When finished, spray Heyedrate Lid and Lash Cleanser on a cotton ball or cotton round and apply gently in a back and forth motion to the area of the eyelid bump.

You can also just lightly massage the eyelid with your fingertip. Choose whichever way is convenient for you.

Step 3: Using a Hypochlorous Acid Eyelid Cleanser After Warm Compresses and Eyelid Massage

We highly recommend using the Heyedrate Lid & Lash Cleanser which is a hypochlorous acid eyelid cleansing solution, to help keep your eyelids and lashes nice and clean.

With an active infection, we recommend using Heyedrate Lid and Lash Cleanser four times per day by spraying  it onto a cotton round or cotton ball and rubbing the area gently. 

1. Use a Hypochlorous Acid Eyelid Cleanser Twice Daily

As discussed above, hypochlorous acid eyelid cleansers help to clean the eyelids, which helps safeguard against irritated eyes and itchy, dry, inflamed skin, which could be resulting in your painful eyelid bumps.  Try to use this eyelid cleanser twice per day. 

Click here to purchase our recommended hypochlorous acid eyelid cleanser, Heyedrate Lid and Lash Cleanser, on Amazon. 

2. Warm Compresses at Least Once Daily

Warm compresses every day will not only help prevent this condition, but they may also help you relax and reduce your stress as we consider it a "home spa therapy." 

Just microwave a commercial warm compress for 15-20 seconds.  Place over your closed eyelids for 10-20 minutes, reheating as necessary.  Then massage your eyelids after.  

Click here to purchase our recommended warm compress on Amazon.

3. Wash Your Hands and Face With a Tea Tree Oil Soap

Tea tree essential oil is known for its ability to support eye and eyelid health.  Cleaning your face and body daily with a tea tree oil soap is vital to keeping the eyelids and lashes clean and clear. 

Click here to purchase our recommended tree soap.

4. Always Remove Eye Makeup Every Night Before Bed

Eye makeup can be riddled with bacteria and clogs up the glands along your eyelids.  Not removing it will cause them to be clogged for a longer time and drastically increases your risk of infection.  

Always remove your eye makeup at nighttime, and bonus points if you do it with a tea tree oil eye makeup remover. 

Click here to purchase a tea tree oil based eye makeup remover on Amazon.

5. Switch to Daily Disposable Contact Lenses

Just like eye makeup above, contact lenses increase the bacteria in and around your eyes and eyelid area.   If you wear a monthly, two week, or longer replacement schedule then bacteria is building up over time on those contact lenses, which is why contact lens wearers are more prone to eye infections.  

Switching to a daily disposable lens, like Acuvue 1-Day Oasys contact lenses, ensures a brand new contact lens that is sterile and free from bacteria daily.   This can be huge for preventing eye issues.

6. Clean Your Towels and Pillowcases One to Two Times Weekly

Dirty, wet towels are also filled with bacteria and they smell gross too.  If you are constantly getting painful eyelid bumps or irritated eyes, we recommend washing your towels and pillowcases at least twice per week. This may even help your facial skin as well.

We also recommend to not use laundry detergent, as it is filled with chemicals that can cause skin irritation, inflammation and other problems.  Eliminate those toxic dryer sheets as well.

We opt to use eco-nuts for the laundry and organic wool balls for the dryer to have a nice chemical-free laundry day.  

7. Throw Your Eye Makeup Away Every 3 Months. 

As stated above, your eye makeup becomes filled with bacteria after a while.  It is best to throw away liquid makeup every 3 months, especially if you are using it daily and are prone to eye and eyelid issues.  In addition, you should be cleaning your makeup brushes every few days, depending on how often you use them.

While you are cleaning up your eye makeup and eye makeup routine, check out this blog where we go over best eye makeup for sensitive eyes.