Chickenpox usually lasts for a couple of weeks time before it goes off by itself. There is no way to speed up the healing process. However, there are ways through which you can ease the pain, itchiness, and ways to dry up the blisters and heal it completely without a trace on your skin surface.
Why do you get chicken pox?
Chickenpox is a very common childhood illness that can attack any child. It is a viral condition caused by varicella-zoster virus. The condition erupts with the formation of red spots or rash to the back, chest, and stomach areas. These red spots or rashes can rapidly increase in number within a few days time. Most of these spots will turn into small blisters and can become itchy and irritating. Chickenpox is often accompanied by mild to severe fever. Usually, the fever will be accompanied by mild or intense itching. After a couple of weeks time, the virus will turn inactive and start to live the sensory nerves.
Never use aspirin to bring down pain related to chicken pox, instead use acetaminophen.
Reduce the Body Temperature
- Try to use an air conditioner to maintain to bring down the room temperature during summer seasons. If the outbreak is during winter then bring down the heat level to a comfortable range. Increase in body temperature will increase the blood circulation to your skin, so it will increase the itchiness and irritation.
- Tender coconut water is very effective in bringing down your body’s temperature. In India, Chickenpox patients are made to drink fresh tender coconut water regularly as it is proven to be very effective in bringing down effects of the disease. Try to feed your kid with a glass of tender coconut water two to three times a day.
- Fill your bathtub with cool water, and soak your child in it for 15 to 20 minutes three to four times a day. Do not use any soaps over the skin surface. Instead, you can add one cup of baking soda to a fully filled bathtub which will help to bring down the itchiness. To boost up the anti-itching property you can fill a nylon stocking with oats, tie down the endings and put it in the bathtub.
- Kids tend to scratch themselves quite often during chicken pox. Scratching spots and blisters can lead to scarring. To stop this provide your child with a wet washcloth which they can use to press against the itchy areas and satisfy themselves. As an extra measure trim down the fingernails of your child and make them use cotton gloves before getting to bed.
Bring down the itching
- Calamine is an easily available lotion on most drug stores and supermarkets. It contains zinc oxide which is known for its drying property. Swab some lotion over the blisters and rashes to dry it out.
- Bergamot oil has been used in Italy for decades to dry out blisters caused by Chickenpox. This oil constitutes 11 to 22 percent alcohol so it helps to dry out the blisters quickly. Mix 15 to 20 drops of bergamot oil with a carrier oil such as coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil etc.. and apply it over blisters.
- Sometimes itching can become severe. During these times you can give an oral antihistamine syrup like Benadryl. Just know that these syrups contain alcohol content in them so it can make your child feel drowsy.
Prefer Cotton Clothes
Cotton clothes are the best option for children suffering from Chickenpox over clothes made of other fabrics. As cotton clothes are more gentle over the blisters. Ensure the clothes are clean and washed properly. Prefer cotton clothes with long sleeves and cotton pants as it will discourage scratching.
Chicken Pox in mouth
- Sounds strange? It is not. Chickenpox can sometimes do happen in your child’s mouth. If it happens, make him gargle salt water for few seconds before spitting it out.
- Make your child suck on ice popsicles. This will have a soothing effect.
- Blisters in the mouth can be painful so while it lasts feed your child with bald and spice free foods like soups, bananas, tender coconut etc…
How to Prevent?
- If you are fearful about chickenpox outbreak in your child then you can easily prevent it through a vaccine called Varivax. Doctors recommend this vaccine to all kids who are over one year old and are healthy. Even adults who never had a chickenpox outbreak in their lives can take this vaccine.
- Chickenpox virus outbreak in adults can be a really serious problem. So it is better to have an outbreak as a child which is easy to treat. If your child is too young for vaccination then make him stay away from other kids with chicken pox.
Watch out for the sun
- If your child is accidentally exposed to another kid who has chicken pox then make him stand in the hot sun for few minutes.
- After chickenpox subsides, your child’s skin will be more sensitive to sunlight for a year. That doesn’t mean you should make him stay indoors all the time. Lather some sunscreen lotion to the skin surface that is exposed to sunlight before taking him out.
When to seek Doctor’s Help?
Chickenpox symptoms usually involve red spots, blisters, rashes which are quite itchy accompanied by mild fever. These usually symptoms go away by itself within couple of weeks time. But your child might need immediate Doctor’s attention if he/she has a severe fever, joint pains, unusually large blister formations, vomiting, cough, and severe headaches.