How long pink eye germs live

If you have allergic conjunctivitis, your doctor may prescribe anti-allergy eyedrops or medicine in pill form. Because infectious conjunctivitis is highly contagious, wash your hands after interacting with anyone who has the infection. Don't share potentially infected items like washcloths, towels, gauze, or cotton balls. This can be difficult among family members, so just do the best you can. If you have pinkeye, it's important to wash your hands often, especially after touching your eyes.

The infection can easily spread from one eye to the other on contaminated hands or tissues. It's also wise not to share cosmetics, especially eye makeup. Bacteria can hang out on beauty products, so avoid using the testers at makeup counters directly on your eyes. And if you've already had a bout of pinkeye, throw away all your eye makeup and splurge on new stuff but don't start using your new products until the infection is completely gone.

If you wear contact lenses and you have pinkeye, your doctor or eye doctor may recommend that you not wear contact lenses while infected. After the infection is gone, clean your lenses carefully. Be sure to disinfect the lenses and case at least twice before wearing them again. If you wear disposable contact lenses, throw away your current pair and use a new pair. If you know that you're prone to allergic conjunctivitis, limit allergy triggers in the home by keeping windows and doors closed on days when pollen is heavy and by not letting dust accumulate.

Irritant conjunctivitis can only be prevented by avoiding the irritating causes. Placing cool or warm packs or washcloths over the infected eye or eyes can help. You can also take acetaminophen, if necessary.

Clean the infected eye carefully with warm water and fresh, clean gauze or cotton balls. Keep track of your symptoms, keep your hands clean, visit your doctor as needed, and follow your treatment instructions carefully. A blocked tear duct will often clear up on its own. In other cases in newborns, there may be a more serious infection that requires medical attention. Avoiding pink eye can be tricky, as it is highly contagious. People should try to avoid close contact with anyone who has pink eye until their symptoms have cleared.

Though common and sometimes painful, pink eye is not often a major concern. People should avoid others until their symptoms clear, as it is very contagious when caused by an infection. Most people are safe to go back to work, school, or daycare once symptoms have cleared.

Treatment is often only required in severe cases, or when the infection does not clear on its own. Allergic conjunctivitis is when a person's eye becomes sore, inflamed, and sometimes painful after coming into contact with an allergen. Lichen planus is an inflammatory skin condition marked by an itchy, bumpy, pink or purple rash on the arms and legs.

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How long are you contagious with pink eye? Written by Jenna Fletcher on January 13, Types of pink eye. Share on Pinterest Grass, dust, and tree pollen may cause allergic pink eye. Image credit: P33tr, If conjunctivitis is caused by a virus, the infection simply must run its course. Though there is no treatment for viral pink eye, you can relieve symptoms with lubricating eye drops to soothe irritation. If pink eye is caused by eye allergies , then the condition is not contagious.

But you should find and consult with an eye doctor near you to make sure you know which type of pink eye you or your child has. If eyes are pink from an allergic reaction, eye drops containing antihistamines may be able to relieve symptoms.

Cold compresses also can help. It's difficult to determine exactly how long pink eye is contagious if you don't know its cause. For example, the rubeola virus causing measles and accompanying pink eye symptoms is extremely contagious, often for as long as two weeks or more.

You also can be at risk of getting contagious pink eye from exposure to certain adenoviruses found in water sources such as untreated swimming pool water. This is a good reason to wear swim goggles or a swim mask with a seal that prevents your eyes from being exposed to the water.