The rash appears as red or discolored raised spots that can turn into itchy, fluid-filled blisters. Fluid may drain from the blisters before they dry and scab over. Not all cases of chickenpox will have blisters. Some cases may only have a mild rash that does not turn into blisters.
The chickenpox rash occurs about 10 to 21 days after coming into contact with someone who had the disease. In most cases, a child will develop 250 to 500 small, itchy, fluid-filled blisters over red spots on the skin. The blisters are most often first seen on the face, middle of the body, or scalp.
Chickenpox symptoms vary from person to person. Some children may have only a few blistered spots, but others will have spots all over their body. Adults are more likely to have worse symptoms than children.
Some spots are raised and appear to be forming a round or slightly oval blister. Other spots are flatter. The spots are red and pink and the skin around the spots is pink. Light-brown skin with stage 1 chickenpox spots.
The classic sign of chickenpox is a rash that turns into itchy, fluid-filled blisters which eventually become scabs. The rash may first appear on the chest, back, and face. The rash can then spread over the entire body, including inside the mouth, eyelids, or genital area.
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles presents as a painful, blistering rash. As the blisters break, they form small sores that dry and crust. Although shingles is common, it's frequently mistaken.
You will need to provide a sample of blood from your vein or from the fluid in one of your blisters. Blood tests check for antibodies to the VZV. Blister tests check for the virus itself. For a blood test from a vein, a health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm using a small needle.
The smallpox rash starts in your mouth and on your face and quickly covers most of your body. It starts as a rash and ends up as hard bumps that turn into scabs. In the most common type of smallpox (ordinary smallpox), the rash goes through several stages: Early rash.
Stage 1: Spots and bumps
Early chickenpox spots in fairer skin appear red or pink during the early stages of the rash. The chickenpox rash starts as spots and bumps that are purple, brown, or skin-colored in people with darker skin tones.
Chickenpox symptoms usually last for 1 to 2 weeks – for 3 to 5 days after first developing the initial spotty rash, new spots can appear across the body. Over the course of 5 to 10 days after the rash first appears, all of the red spots would usually dry out, crust over, and then fall off naturally.
The difference between impetigo and chickenpox is that impetigo usually forms around the mouth and nose first, and the scabs the blisters leave behind have a distinct honey-like color to them.
Put the cool compress directly on the skin to cool your skin and relieve itching. Use soothing lotions that can help dry chickenpox blisters, such as those that contain: Phenol, menthol, and camphor, such as calamine lotion. Oatmeal, such as Aveeno Lotion.
Not all cases of chickenpox will have blisters. Some cases may only have a mild rash that does not turn into blisters.
There are many different ways to help reduce the appearance of chickenpox scars. These include aloe vera, vitamin E, and laser treatment. Chickenpox is a highly contagious virus. Most people will experience it once during their lifetime, usually as a child.
Around 90% of people who have not previously had chickenpox will become infected when they come into contact with the virus. Some children have only a few spots, but other children can have spots that cover their entire body.
The rash begins as many small red bumps that look like pimples or insect bites. They appear in waves over 2–4 days, then develop into thin-walled blisters filled with fluid. The blister walls break, leaving open sores, which finally crust over to become dry, brown scabs.
Currently, there is no evidence of naturally occurring smallpox transmission anywhere in the world. Although a worldwide immunization program eradicated smallpox disease decades ago, small quantities of smallpox virus officially still exist in two research laboratories in Atlanta, Georgia, and in Russia.
The rash caused by chickenpox appears 10 to 21 days after you're exposed to the varicella-zoster virus. The rash often lasts about 5 to 10 days. Other symptoms that may appear 1 to 2 days before the rash include: Fever.
Prodromal symptoms such as nausea, myalgia, anorexia, headache, general malaise, and loss of appetite. Small, erythematous macules which appear on the scalp, face, trunk, and proximal limbs, and progress over 12–14 hours to papules, clear vesicles (which are intensely itchy), and pustules.
If you're at high risk of complications
If you or your child is at high risk of complications, your provider may suggest antiviral medicine to fight the virus, such as acyclovir (Zovirax, Sitavig). This medicine may lessen the symptoms of chickenpox.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) PCR is the most useful laboratory test for confirming suspected varicella and herpes zoster. PCR can detect VZV DNA rapidly and sensitively in skin lesions (vesicles, scabs, maculopapular lesions).
Chickenpox, particularly in early stages, may be confused with herpes simplex, impetigo, insect bites, or scabies. The early prodrome stage of shingles can cause severe pain on one side of the lower back, chest, or abdomen before the rash appears.
A vesicle, or blister, is a thin-walled sac filled with a fluid, usually clear and small. Vesicle is an important term used to describe the appearance of many rashes that typically consist of or begin with tiny-to-small fluid-filled blisters. Pemphigus is classified as one of the blistering diseases.
When a rash does occur with RSV, it's usually mild and appears as flat or slightly raised red spots on the chest, back, or face.