Yes, styes are preventable, and practicing good eyelid hygiene is the best way to help prevent getting styes. Here are some easy ways to practice good eyelid hygiene:

How to Prevent Styes

• Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching the skin around your eyes or your eyelids.
• Avoid touching your eyes with dirty towels, washcloths or other unclean items.
• Do not use old, expired, or contaminated cosmetics – bacteria can grow in old makeup.
• Regularly disinfect and clean contact lenses and wash your hands before putting in contact lenses.

What to Do If You Keep Getting Eye Styes

If you find that you get recurring styes even though you feel like you’re practicing good eye hygiene, talk with your doctor, especially if your stye keeps coming back in the same spot. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic ointment as a stye treatment. 

Your doctor may also notice if you have any conditions that would make it harder for your eyes to stay clean. This could be dry eyes, blepharitis or another condition. In some cases a little extra care in cleaning your eye area and eye lashes may help. 

To carefully clean off excess oils from around your eyelids:

• Put a few drops of baby shampoo into a small cup of warm water and stir.
• Using a clean cotton swab, cotton ball, or washcloth, gently  brush the soapy solution along the base of your eyelashes (keep your eyes closed).
• Do this for about 30 seconds per eye with a clean cotton swab, cotton ball, or clean portion of the washcloth for each eye.