Use soothing lotions that can help dry chickenpox blisters, such as those that contain: Phenol, menthol, and camphor, such as calamine lotion.
Calamine lotions and creams are dabbed directly onto itchy spots to provide relief, and can also help to dry these spots out so they scab over and fall off faster. Painkillers – chickenpox can sometimes cause pain and a high fever, which can be relieved by over the counter painkillers.
The chickenpox vaccine is over 90% effective at preventing this once-common childhood illness.
Acyclovir (Zovirax) This is the main antiviral drug prescribed for chickenpox. It's usually taken by mouth, but may be given intravenously (by IV) in people with severe complications.
Chickenpox is a common infection that spreads easily and mostly affects children. It usually gets better on its own after 1 to 2 weeks without needing to see a GP, but can be serious in some people.
There is no treatment for chickenpox. But, you can get remedies from your pharmacy that can help symptoms. These include: paracetamol to help bring down a fever.
The first few days are the worst – chickenpox is at its itchiest before the blisters start to crust over and form scabs, so the first 3 to 5 days are normally the worst. This is because the blisters, when filled with liquid, release chemicals that make skin feel itchy.
Chickenpox spots can be very itchy. Applying calamine lotion by dabbing it gently onto the skin with a cotton pad can help to soothe their skin. You can also dress your child in loose clothing and bathe them in cool water to help reduce their itching.
Avoiding dehydration: It is important to drink plenty of fluids, preferably water, to prevent dehydration, which can be a complication of chickenpox. Sugar-free popsicles: These can help ease symptoms of mouth soreness if there are spots in the mouth. Avoid salty or spicy foods.
DON'T scratch blisters or scabs. DON'T expose pregnant women, newborns, elderly people, or those with low resistance to infection to chickenpox. DON'T let infected children go to school or day care for at least 6 days after the first blisters appear. Dried, crusted scabs are not infectious.
Chickenpox is contagious for 1 to 2 days before the rash starts and until the blisters have all dried and become scabs. The blisters usually dry and become scabs within 5 to 7 days of the onset of the rash. Children should stay home and away from other children until all of the blisters have scabbed over.
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.
“Exposure to sunlight may help impede the spread of chickenpox,” BBC News has reported.
Apply calamine lotion; petroleum jelly; or a fragrance-free, anti-itch lotion. Because chickenpox is caused by a virus, don't use an antibiotic cream or ointment on your child's skin unless your doctor tells you to use it. An antibiotic cream or ointment could cause an allergic reaction.
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.
Until 1995, chickenpox infection was a common occurrence, and almost everyone had been infected by the time he or she reached adulthood. However, the introduction of the chickenpox vaccine in 1995 has caused a decline in the incidence of chickenpox in all ages, particularly in children ages 1 through 4 years.
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.
When treating chickenpox it is important that parents know not to use Ibuprofen as it has been linked to developing secondary skin infections. In severe cases a condition called necrotising fasciitis has been known to occur. Necrotising fasciitis is a severe and often life threatening infection.
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.
Over the course of several days, the blisters pop and start to leak. Then they crust and scab over before finally healing. Chickenpox is generally mild, especially in children.
Call Your Doctor If:
Chickenpox look infected (draining pus, scabs become larger) Gets any new chickenpox after day 6. You think your child needs to be seen. Your child becomes worse.
Do not use soap, or use only a mild soap. Soaps that are made for sensitive skin or recommended for babies are usually mild. Add a handful of oatmeal (ground to a powder) to your bath. Or you can try an oatmeal bath product, such as Aveeno.
Because the rash comes in waves, all three stages of the chickenpox rash (red bumps, blisters, and scabs) appear on the body at the same time. The rash usually starts on the belly or back and face. Then it spreads to almost everywhere else on the body, including the scalp, mouth, arms, legs, and genitals.