Also, remember that it's never a good idea to share mascara with someone else. If you use someone else's mascara wand, there's a risk of bacteria spreading into your eye, which could potentially cause a stye (hordeolum) to develop.
Makeup can also contribute to developing styes. In applying eye makeup, applicators repeatedly touch the products and the eyes, causing bacteria to transfer between them. While styes aren't contagious, reusing the same contaminated products can reintroduce bacteria to your eyes, leading to recurring styes.
Bacteria may also form on makeup brushes used to apply eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara. Bacteria can also form on the makeup itself. Also, if you share eye makeup with someone else, you are at an increased risk of developing an eye infection.
It's generally not recommended to share mascara. Sharing mascara can increase the risk of transferring bacteria and other pathogens between users, which can lead to eye infections or irritations. Each person's eye health and hygiene practices are different, so it's best to use your own products to maintain safety.
But are eye styes contagious? While viral pink eye and some other eye infections are contagious, styes spread so rarely between individuals that the American Academy of Ophthalmology characterizes them as not contagious.
A stye is caused by a blockage of one of the oil glands in the eyelids. This allows bacteria to grow inside the blocked gland. Styes are a lot like common acne pimples that occur elsewhere on the skin.
A chalazion is sometimes confused with a stye, which also appears as a lump in the eyelid. Chalazions usually occur farther from the edge of the eyelid than styes, and are usually not very tender.
Safe makeup practices and hygiene tips
Avoid sharing: Refrain from sharing makeup products, especially those that come into direct contact with the eyes, lips, or mucous membranes. This includes mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, lip gloss, and lip balm.
"Depending on the bacteria or virus and depending on the type of product and its ingredients, beauty products can remain contaminated from a range of a few hours or days to much longer," said Dr. David Lortscher, a board-certified dermatologist and the CEO and founder of Curology.
Most eye irritation and general discomfort caused by makeup are temporary and not critical. However, it is possible to get a bacterial infection such as pink eye or styes, even a fungal infection from infected eye makeup.
A stye is a painful red bump on the edge of your eyelid. Similar to an acne pimple, a stye forms when a tiny oil gland near your eyelashes becomes blocked and gets infected. Styes are very common, and in many cases, you can manage them at home. But some cases may require treatment by an eye care provider. Eye Care.
Levy was quick to point to mascara and lip gloss as especially risky items to share. However, “any type of face powder” including powder foundation or blush, are among the least likely to transmit harmful bacteria according to Levy.
Conjunctivitis that produces sticky pus is contagious. If eyes are red and feel gritty, the conjunctivitis is also usually contagious.
The glue used to apply eyelash extensions can block oil glands or hair follicles, leading to a bacteria buildup. Meanwhile, the lashes themselves may prevent you from properly cleaning the area, increasing your risk of styes.
While they both form due to blocked oil glands, styes are bacterial infections that cause the gland to swell. Styes appear at your eyelid's edge, whereas chalazia appear farther back on your eyelid. In addition, styes can be painful, but chalazia generally aren't painful.
Certain makeup practices can increase the risk of developing styes. For example, expired makeup products can harbor bacteria, while sharing makeup tools with others can transfer bacteria from one person to another.
The bacteria in your mouth may grow in the cosmetic and later use may cause an eye infection. Don't share your cosmetics. Another person's bacteria in your cosmetic can be harmful to you.
Eye makeup may carry bacteria and cause another stye. Throw away eye makeup and brushes used to apply the makeup. Use new eye makeup after the stye has gone away. Do not share eye makeup with others.
Yes, it's unsanitary to use someone else's mascara, even your mom's. You can easily share a bacterial or other infection (pink eye is never cute). If you are using her mascara without permission, that's also disrespectful of her belongings and will probably get you in trouble.
Don't share mascara or eyeliner
Anything that it's in gel/liquid form can harbor bacteria more than powder form. Therefore, don't share!
Although “mascara” refers to someone's partner, others have also used the imagery of a “mascara wand” as code for, well, you get the picture.
Check if you have a stye
A stye is a small, painful lump on or inside the eyelid or around the eye. The skin around the stye may be swollen and red and the stye may be filled with yellow pus. The redness may be harder to see on brown and black skin. Your eye may be red and watery but your vision should not be affected.
An internal stye forms when you have an infection in one of your meibomian glands. You have dozens of these glands along the edges of your eyelids. They produce oils that help protect and lubricate your eyes. But like other glands in your eyes, your meibomian glands can become infected.