A red bump on your upper eyelid can be both painful and unsightly. A stye, or hordeolum, is the most common type of eyelid bump, according to MedlinePlus. A stye will usually get better with home treatment, but medical treatment may be necessary if your stye doesn't improve or causes severe pain.
Stye Formation
Oil glands at the base of your eyelids help lubricate the skin of your eyelashes. A clogged oil gland can occur if there is too much oil, due to overproduction or infrequent cleaning of the eyelids. If bacteria on your skin mixes with the oil in the clog, inflammation occurs, resulting in a red pus-filled bump that looks like a pimple on the edge of your eyelid. Styes usually drain on their own in a few days.
Chalazion
If your stye doesn't improve on its own, it can turn into a chalazion. A chalazion develops when a complete blockage of the oil gland results in a hard bump on the eyelid. The condition is more common in adults than children and occur most frequently in people 30 to 50 years of age, according to the American Optometric Association. Chalazia occur more often in the upper eyelid than the lower eyelid and can cause your eye to water. A large chalazion that presses against your eye can blur or distort your vision. A chalazion can also resolve on its own, although these bumps may require removal if they don't disappear or interfere with vision.
Risk Factor
If you have blepharitis, you may be at higher risk of developing a stye or chalazion. People who have allergies, lice, rosacea or seborrheic dermatitis of the face or scalp are more likely to develop blepharitis, according to MedlinePlus. Blepharitis causes red, swollen, itchy, burning and crusty eyelids due to an overproduction of oil in the eyelids.
Treatment
Applying warm compresses to the eyelid several times per day can help promote drainage and relieve the discomfort of a stye or chalazion. Your doctor may recommend the use of an antibiotic cream to prevent future infections if you have a problem with frequent styes. If your chalazion does not improve, your doctor may surgically remove it.
Warning
See your doctor if your eyelid bump continues to grow larger after several days. In some cases, enlarged bumps can be a sign of cancer. Show your doctor any raised yellow bumps on your eyelids. While these bumps, called xanthomas are harmless, they can be a symptom of an underlying health problem, including high cholesterol, liver disease or cancer.
