Although the severity of the rash varies from person to person, all people with chickenpox need to minimize scratching the rash to prevent:
Infection from bacteria under your fingernails or on the skin of your hands.
Scarring.
Spreading the rash and making it more severe.
Spreading the rash to others who have not had chickenpox.
You can treat itching from the chickenpox rash at home with lotions, baths, and nonprescription medications. Baths
Warm to cool baths can help relieve itching. Take baths for 20 to 30 minutes as often as needed.
Do not use soap or use only a mild soap that contains ingredients such as chamomile, aloe vera, oatmeal, or lavender. Soaps that are made for sensitive skin or recommended for babies are usually also mild. Antibacterial soaps such as Dial and Phisohex may also be used.
Add soothing ingredients to the bath.
Oatmeal baths such as Aveeno and Actibath can be bought in most food and drugstores.
You can make your own oatmeal bath by mixing 1 cup of oatmeal with 3 cups cold water and adding it to the bath water.
Other ingredients, such as cornstarch [about 2 cups per bath], baking soda, and bath oils or bubble baths containing certain essential oils (lavender or rose) can also be added to the bath to help soothe skin.
Blot the skin dry after bathing; don't rub the skin.
Compresses
Apply cool compresses to itchy areas.
Use a soft, absorbent cloth, such as a soft washcloth. Wet the cloth with cool water alone or cool water containing baking soda or essential oils such as lavender or rose. Apply the cool compress directly to the skin.
You can also make an oatmeal paste and apply it to itchy areas.
Lotions
Apply 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.
Prevent skin irritation
Some general hygiene practices can help prevent skin irritation and scratching.
Wear loose-fitting cotton clothing.
Change clothes and bedsheets daily.
Use a mild laundry detergent if clothes or linens seem to be irritating the skin.
Antihistamines
Lotions or creams that contain antihistamines should not be used for chickenpox. However, sometimes antihistamines that are taken by mouth will help relieve itching.
Antihistamines taken by mouth may help prevent you or your child from scratching the rash and blisters, especially during sleep.
Antihistamines can be bought without a prescription. However, talk with your health professional before giving antihistamines to children or older adults. It is more difficult to judge the appropriate amount of these medications to give to children.
Help children avoid scratching and infection
It can be especially challenging to control a child's scratching. Try the following methods to help keep your child from itching the rash or help prevent skin infection that can result from scratching:
Clean and closely trim the child's fingernails.
Have a small child wear mittens or clean cotton socks on his or her hands to prevent scratching, or use light bandages over open blisters.
Wash the child's hands often.
Distract the child when you find him or her scratching.
Use caution
Take general precautions to control itching and to prevent additional problems.
Avoid getting hot and sweating because these trigger itching. Stay out of sunlight. A child can play outside in the shade.
Avoid using certain creams or sprays on babies and young children. It is difficult to know how much medication is absorbed into their bodies, and too much can be dangerous. Products with following ingredients should be avoided:
Lidocaine
Pramoxine
Diphenhydramine
TRUST ME...I REALLY HOPE THAT HELPS!!!Will blisters in chicken pox live permanent scars?
yes. they do leave perm scars if you scratch them open and don't let them heal on their own. calamine lotion is what's best for the itching.
i have a few from when i had them...not very noticable though...very white and small
Use calamine lotion (sp?)
No almost everyone has had chicken pox and it doesn't cause permanent scars, but dont pop them!!
One of my children had chicken pox really bad when he was about two years old. He was so young it was hard for him to comprehend the ';don't scratch'; thing. As a result he has three or four very small scars.
no. not always.
no perminent scars because someone else must have had blisters at sometime and they never had a permanent scar left. those type of blisters may go quit quikly
i have three or four chicken pox scars. i had them really bad though...benadryl/calamine lotion works good for the itching
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