How to Prevent Scarring from Chicken Pox (for Kids & Adults)
During the school year is the most common period for a child to get the chicken pox. The disease is usually contracted from being in the same room as another person who is infected with the virus.
This article will explain how to know if you or your child has contracted the virus with a checklist of typical chicken pox symptoms to look out for.
In addition, you can find out some useful ways for how to prevent scarring from chicken pox on your face and other areas of the body that are affected.
Initial stages of chicken pox symptoms
The spots that arise on the skin usually coincide with a few other ailments.
First, it usually begins with a bad headache or sore throat. A stomachache is quite common as well. The chicken pox can also start with a high fever and even flu-like symptoms. Tiredness and loss of appetite are other common symptoms.
Unfortunately, the sufferer has to deal with these internal issues on top of having the external problem of dealing with several red spots all over their skin.
Later stages of chicken pox symptoms
After the initial stages are complete, a rash will spread to other areas of the body and form a number of red spots.
Generally, the spots will start on the face, back and on the abdomen areas. Then, they will spread to all other parts of the body.
If you notice a rash forming, visit a doctor immediately. This way, you can receive appropriate treatment and speed the healing process.
The spots can range in size. Some can be as small as a mosquito bite. Others can be larger and grow to nearly the size of a nickel.
Over time, the spots will form into blisters that fill with white or transparent fluid. Scab formation is quite typical when the blisters break. It is important to avoid itching the affected areas, even though it is tempting to scratch everywhere.
Chicken pox prevention methods
The virus can be spread in a number of different ways. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the chicken pox symptoms and to detect the problem early on. Once you know that you or your child has been infected, there are a number of things you can do to prevent the virus from spreading on to other people.
Usually, the chicken pox virus is spread through the air via coughing or sneezing. The particles get inhaled by another person and they get infected. It can also be spread from direct contact with the blisters or mucus. People who have the virus are contagious until all the blisters have crusted over.
With these factors in mind, it is important for the person infected with chicken pox to stay away from people who haven’t had a vaccination or who haven’t contracted the virus in their lifetime. It is more common for children to contract the chicken pox; however, adults can be at risk if they haven't gotten the chicken pox yet.
Due to the severity of the disease, some physicians suggest that adults get vaccinated for the disease if they haven't been exposed to it during childhood. Remember to consult your doctor if you think you are at risk.
Furthermore, other simple steps can be taken to prevent the chicken pox, such as frequent hand washing and wearing sterile masks. However, stopping the virus with a vaccination before symptoms develop is likely the best prevention method.
All in all, it is important to inquire about vaccinations with your physician to protect both you and your children. Typically, babies get vaccinated when they’re about 12 months old and receive booster shots again before they enter kindergarten or first grade. Also, for adults who are still concerned about contracting the chicken pox, it will be well worth the trip to the doctor to see if vaccination is appropriate for you.
How to prevent scarring on face and body
To conclude this article, many people are often worried about getting facial scars from the chicken pox. As previously mentioned, the best practice is to resist touching the infections and to avoid picking at the scabs. Doing so will only make it worse and impede the recovery process.
Besides not touching the skin, there are some other recommendations for how to prevent scarring from chicken pox on the face and body. For instance, applying natural skin products, such as vitamin E, aloe vera, or cocoa butter can help the healing process after the scabs have fallen off. Sunscreen is also essential if you are going outside.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E blocks free radicals and is a strong antioxidant for the skin. In addition, it can also reduce wrinkles, fine lines, and any dark spots that formed on your face or other areas of the body. In fact, after surgeries, some doctors actually recommend their patients to apply Vitamin E oil to help heal the skin faster.
Aloe Vera
The natural hormones from aloe vera can heal wounds and reduce inflammation caused by chicken pox (and other skin issues). Similar to vitamin E, it can also keep the skin looking youthful and be beneficial to people who suffer from other skin conditions, such as acne or eczema.
Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter is not only an effective skin moisturizer, but it can also be applied to the skin to prevent scarring. It also can even out your skin tone so that it reduces the appearance of marks on the skin. Cocoa softens the skin's texture and can help repair damaged tissue caused by the chicken pox.
Sunscreen
Last but not least, apply sunscreen to your skin if you are going to be exposed to the sun. Sunscreen will protect you from harmful UV rays and prevent dark spots from forming on your skin.
It is always a healthy practice to apply sunscreen to your body whenever you expect to be outside for extended periods of time. Remember, this can also include times when you are exposed to the sun through windows or while driving.
Conclusion
As a parent, it is important to know about chicken pox symptoms before they occur. By taking the proper precautions and practicing smarter prevention methods, we can reduce the chances of contracting the virus.
Finally, by applying natural skin lotions and sunscreen, we can help prevent scarring on the face due to chicken pox more effectively.
Do you have tips for how to prevent scarring from chicken pox?
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