What is the best treatment for chicken pox scars? What is the duration of treatment?

Chicken pox is an ailment common amongst children, especially under the age of 12. The virus causing the chicken pox known as varicella-zoster is responsible for chicken pox infection. It is a highly contagious condition, spreading through miniscule drops of saliva and nasal mucus, from the sneezes and coughs of the individual affected by chicken pox. Chicken pox appears as a reddish, itchy rash on the skin, first making its presence felt on the abdomen, face and back. From there it can spread to cover the entire body, from the scalp to the mouth, and even the genitals.

Once completely healed, the disorder does not usually leave lifetime scars behind, even though there are plenty of scabs all over the body during the infection. This is the reason why there is no real need for treating chicken pox scarring. On the other hand, the degree of scabbing can be diminished by massaging the body with Vitamin E oil or honey. Consuming a healthy diet can help in counter-attacking the weakening effects of the disease. It is a good idea to include foods such leafy green vegetables and tomatoes into your diet as these are rich in vitamins and essential minerals.

There is a possibility of scarring taking place during chicken pox. This happens, when the blisters get very itchy and are scratched by the individual. These scabs when scratched can sometimes get infected thus leading to scarring. An effective solution is to ensure that the scabs are always kept clean. Some popular home remedies call for rinsing the scars well with salt water or by dabbing them with liquid colloidal silver. Honey is another tried and tested home remedy. It can be used to eliminate the scarring by applying over the affected areas.

Whilst scars caused by chicken pox tend to fade gradually after a while, there are a number of natural remedies that can be used to quicken the process. You can take some cotton gauze or balls and soak it in coconut water and dab it over the affected areas daily. Most folk therapists who advocate this method are of the opinion that the use of coconut water ensures a speedy removal of your scars. Another alternative is to use freshly squeezed lemon juice as an application over the affected area of the skin. Studies have shown that vitamin E oil is also beneficial in the removal of chicken pox scars. Not only does it help in rejuvenating the cells of the skin but it also helps in providing the skin with nourishment. You can also apply aloe vera gel over the areas affected by the scarring, as it is known to be effective in removing the scars. Importantly, always ensure that you drink plenty of water to keep yourself well hydrated as this may help in enhancing the healing process.

answered by G M

• Chicken pox rarely leaves lasting, severe scars, and it is therefore unlikely that you need treatment for scarring. Usually, by the 14th day of the chicken pox infection, there is no more blistering and the scabs too have fallen off. Within a couple of weeks after this, all scars have also cleared.
• However, try to avoid or minimize scratching the blisters, as this can lead to contamination with bacteria and subsequent infection, which may then leave scars. Particularly for children, it is advisable to keep fingernails trimmed extremely short. For the duration of the blistering, a salt-water bath is often recommended — it is antiseptic and soothing. One ancient Indian remedy involves the use of the margosa tree leaves. A twig of the tree can be lightly brushed against the skin when it itches. Margosa leaves can also be added to the bath water along with a dash of turmeric. In addition, it is recommended that the patient sleeps on margosa leaves.

answered by G M

1. Apply sandalwood oil to the scars from the time they start appearing till the time the dry skin falls.
2. Vitamin E oil helps the healing process and also nourishes the skin. Apply it evenly at least twice daily till the scars fade.
3. You can also evenly coat the scars liberally with honey once a day.
4. Eat vegetables like spinach, green cabbage, tomatoes, green turnips, broccoli, liver, lean meats and all kinds of dairy products are high in vitamin K which helps in healing scars, wounds or stretch marks.
5. Mildly rub your scar areas with a piece of freshly cut lemon once a day.. It removes dead skin and gives the skin a healthy glow.
6. You can also rub raw garlic on the scars daily.
7. Avoid sweetened drinks and sugar but drink 8-10 glasses of water and juices everyday.
8. Cut the seeds of ripe black seeds of Gulbaaz plant and remove the white portion. Make a paste of the white portion by mixing it in water. Coat the scars with this mixture and leave it to dry. Then wash it with water and wipe the skin dry. Use this process once daily. This is a very effective way to remove scars.
9. Apply honey all over the affected area. Apart from removing the scars and it also revitalizes the skin.

answered by D D