Stye: Contagious, and how?

[HPVworry1981]

Please, really only looking for someone with a medical background to answer this question, since I've already confronted the varying info out there on the web...

I have what I think is a stye on the lower lid of my right eye. There's a pain and a swelling, though I can't see anything that looks like an exterior pimple or spot, per se.

I'm going to the doctor on Monday...but my question  is, how contagious are styes, and in what manner? Mainly what I'm concerned about is that I have a second date with someone over the weekend...If I kiss them, would that be an instance in which the stye could spread? Or is it more complicated/oblique than that? It's a bit awkward to bring it up, unless I need to...

[HPVworry1981]

Still curious about contagiousness, but also...

The eye that has what I think is a stye is also quite puffy underneath, not just the lower eyelid...almost like a bag under just that eye that is not normally there...could the stye also be causing this?

[HPVworry1981]

Also directed to anyone else who might have some insight...

I know it seems like a pimple, but everything I've read says it is caused by  the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium, and is infectious?

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

It is not contagious.  It is a pimple.

Dr. O.