Frequent Styes: Causes and When to Seek Help

Frequent occurrence of styes?

Hello Doctor: Since last year, I have been preparing for the national exam, and starting in May of this year, I have been experiencing frequent styes, approximately once a month.
Recently, just last week, I had a stye on my left eye, and today I developed another stye on my right eye.
Over the past six months, I have undergone three incision and drainage procedures for my eyes at the clinic.
I usually go to bed around 10:30 PM and perform warm compresses daily, yet the styes continue to occur frequently.
The ophthalmologist mentioned that it might be due to my allergic constitution, but this frequency has only started in the past six months.

In addition to the styes, I visited a doctor last month for gastroenteritis, and I have been experiencing irregular bowel movements recently.
Over the past few days, I have also been having frequent headaches, mild discomfort on the side of my neck, occasional chest tightness, and intermittent pain on the right side of my chest, which subsides after a while.

I would like to ask the doctor whether I should undergo a comprehensive health check-up or consult an allergist/immunologist/rheumatologist.
If I only do a general health check-up, will it be able to reveal any issues with my immune system? I apologize for the lengthy description, and I appreciate your help in answering my questions.
Thank you!

S, 20~29 year old female. Ask Date: 2023/11/05

Dr. Gao Jiankai reply Internal Medicine

Hello, thank you for your inquiry.
Since the symptoms are mostly non-specific, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact issue.
If you are very concerned, you may start with a comprehensive health check-up.
If the results are normal but you continue to experience recurrent styes or chest tightness, you can seek consultation at a rheumatology clinic.
Standard health check-ups typically do not include detailed immune system assessments, but if necessary, you can ask your rheumatologist to arrange for one.
The Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology Department at Changhua Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, is here to support you.

Reply Date: 2023/11/05

More Info

Frequent styes, or hordeola, can be quite bothersome and may indicate underlying issues that need to be addressed. A stye is an infection of the oil glands in the eyelid, typically caused by bacteria, leading to a painful, swollen bump. Your experience of having recurrent styes, especially at a frequency of once a month, suggests that there may be contributing factors that need to be explored.

Firstly, it’s important to understand that while styes are often linked to poor hygiene or blocked glands, they can also be associated with other health conditions. For instance, individuals with certain skin conditions, such as seborrheic dermatitis or acne, may be more prone to developing styes. Additionally, if you have a history of allergies, as your ophthalmologist suggested, this could also play a role in your susceptibility to styes. Allergies can lead to inflammation and irritation of the eyelids, which may increase the likelihood of gland blockage and subsequent infection.

Given that you have also experienced other symptoms, such as gastrointestinal issues, headaches, neck discomfort, and occasional chest pain, it would be prudent to consider a comprehensive evaluation of your overall health. While a general health check-up can provide valuable information about your immune system, it may not be exhaustive enough to pinpoint specific issues related to your recurrent styes or other symptoms.

A full blood panel can help assess various aspects of your health, including your immune function, but it might not directly reveal underlying allergic conditions or specific autoimmune disorders. If your symptoms are indeed related to allergies, an evaluation by an allergist or immunologist could be beneficial. They can perform specific tests to identify potential allergens and assess your immune response.

In terms of managing your styes, continuing with warm compresses is a good practice, as it can help to alleviate discomfort and promote drainage. However, if the styes persist despite these measures, or if you notice any changes in your vision or increased severity of symptoms, it is essential to seek further medical attention.
In summary, while your frequent styes may be related to allergies, the presence of other systemic symptoms warrants a more thorough investigation. I recommend scheduling an appointment with a healthcare provider who can conduct a comprehensive evaluation, including blood tests and possibly refer you to an allergist or immunologist if necessary. This approach will help ensure that any underlying issues are identified and appropriately managed, leading to better overall health and potentially reducing the frequency of your styes.

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