Chicken pox scars! If the virus attack was not painful enough, the remnants left behind in the form of scars are horrible reminders to what we went through, is it not? But wait, there are ways for you to deal with the viral infection remnants caused by chicken pox.
Let’s take a look at the definition of what chicken pox is, what the scar is all about and home remedies to deal with the same. Please read on and be well-informed!
What is Chicken Pox?
Also known as varicella, the itchy red blisters are the characteristics of what we commonly refer to as chicken pox. They appear not just on the face, but all over the body in most cases. It is because of the zoster virus that this condition is caused and most say it is the common childhood rite of passage. However, adults have it too. The scabs are itchy and if you do itch them, they can leave behind the scars that are ugly and dark. It takes a very long time for them to leave the body though, so don’t itch!
What is Chicken Pox Scars?
The time taken for the scars to leave the body or the black marks caused by the virus to leave the body or fade away can be from a few weeks to several months. This would depend on how soon the skin you have can regenerate new skin cells and shed away the dark spots caused by the scabs too. However, since time immemorial, ever since one contracts the pox, mothers and grandmothers have used various home remedies to do away with the pox and the scars that follow the virus attack. Remember, the skin has natural regenerative properties and the same can be disrupted too. There are many factors that can disrupt the regeneration of skin cells. For example-
- Lack of fluids in the body
- The presence of pathogens and bacteria in the spots
- Mineral deficiency in the body
- Vitamin deficiency in the body
- Underlying medical conditions and more
To know how to get done away with the ugly dark spots left behind by chicken pox, we shall share a couple of tried and tested, and very useful home remedies that really work. Please read on and be well-informed for the same.
Home Remedies to Remove Chicken Pox Scar
1. Honey
What all you need:
- A tablespoon of honey
Directions:
- What you need to do is to rub the honey gently on the black spots for five minutes, thrice a day.
- Wait for ten minutes for the honey to soak into the skin
- Wash off with cold water
- Pat dry
- Moisturize the skin
How it works:
Honey is nature’s antimicrobial agent, and it also helps with the load of antioxidants it has. The agent honey, is known for its refining properties and natural moisturizing effects too. It is anti ageing by nature and helps do away with blemishes, spots and marks on the face and the body as well. Daily use of the same would show a marked difference in a week, and your skin would be given the boost to shine and be bright once again- flawless with a touch of honey each day.
2. Aloe Vera
What all you need:
- A tablespoon of aloe vera gel or juice
Directions:
- Rub the gel or the juice of aloe vera on the spots for five minutes thrice a day
- Wait for ten minutes for the aloe vera to soak into the skin
- Wash off with cold water
- Pat dry
- Moisturize the skin
How it works:
Aloe vera is an antimicrobial and an anti blemish agent, it is also a natural moisturizer and a coolant too. The enzymes of the aloe vera plant goes deep within the epidermal layer of the skin and moistens the cells, helps with tissue regeneration and cell turnover too. Daily application will help lighten up the spots and not allow dehydration to set in. Do this while the pox is being treated and the scabs won’t be itchy for you to scratch and create marks. Aloe vera heals and rejuvenates the skin too.
3. Lemon Juice
What all you need:
- A half lime
- A tablespoon of honey
Directions:
- Squeeze the lime and extract all the juice
- Add honey to the juice and mix well
- Dip a cotton ball into this mixture and gently rub all over the spots
- Wait for ten minutes
- Wash off with cold water
- Pat dry
How it works:
The vitamin C content in lime helps with the production of collagen and prevents the formation of free radicals. Lime also has antibacterial and antiviral properties in it which gets deep into the skin and fights off the infection. The vitamin C in lime also nourishes the skin and the lime extracts treats the dark spots and lightens the skin too. Daily use of the same would show a marked difference in a week, and your skin would be given the boost to shine and be bright once again- flawless with a touch of honey each day.
4. Papaya
What all you need:
- Fleshy pieces of papaya
- A teaspoon of lime
- A teaspoon of honey.
Directions:
- In a blender, mix the lime, the honey and the papaya and blend well to form a gooey paste.
- Apply the paste gently all over the darkened spots on the face and the body
- Wrap with a cling film wrap or a plastic sheet
- Wait for half an hour
- Wash off with cold water
- Pat dry
How it works:
Papaya enzymes help with the exfoliation of dead skin cells and the enzymes work deep into the skin to attack the intra cellular debris and remove the dark spots over time.
5. Baking Soda
What all you need:
- A tablespoon of baking soda
- A teaspoon of lime juice
Directions:
- Mix the two ingredients well to form a frothy paste
- Apply the paste on the affected spots on the face and the body
- Wait for half an hour
- Gently massage and wash with cold water
- Wipe off and pat dry
How it works:
Baking soda is an exfoliating agent, and it helps remove dead skin cells and intra cellular debris from the skin. It also acts as a gentle scrubbing agent and removes the scabs too.
6. Coconut Water
What all you need:
- A glass of fresh coconut water
Directions:
- Wash the area with the glass of fresh coconut water thrice a day
How it works:
Coconut water has plenty of nutrients in it, and it has minerals and vitamins in it with a lot of trace elements too. Apart from that, coconut water can be an anti wrinkle, anti scar and anti dehydration agent as well. Thanks to the presence of cytokines and lauric acid in coconut water, the cell growth regulation is boosted, metabolism of the cell is boosted too, and the pH levels of the skin and the maintenance of connective tissues is taken care of as well. Since coconut water is anti viral, it also helps replicate the healthy layers of the tissues, and it maintains the microbial barrier and the ecosystem of the skin as well. Coconut water also is a coolant by nature, it brings down the redness and the itching, cools and calms the skin and soothes it too. So it is best to wash up when the virus is on you, rather than wait for the blisters to erupt and ooze.
7. Oats
- What all you need:
- A cup of warm water
- A cup of oats
Directions:
- Mix the warm water and the oats and form a gooey paste
- Apply the paste over the affected areas on the skin
- Wait for half an hour
- Gently use massages over the area
- Wash off with cold water
- Pat dry
How it works:
It is a fact that oats can miraculously help hydrate the skin. Oats helps speed up the healing process and does not allow the scabs to stay back. The paste of oatmeal as mentioned is also a good skin lightener since it treats the ugly dark spots left behind if any. Oats moisturizes your skin for sure, but also is a coolant and a soothing agent, and also an exfoliating agent too. This is why, most mothers would ask you to use oat packs to refine the skin and lighten it, and also to heal the skin from pox and acne scabs and scars.
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8. Coconut Oil
What all you need:
- A tablespoon of coconut oil
Directions:
- Gently massage the coconut oil onto the affected area
- Wait for ten minutes
- Wipe off with a damp warm cloth
How it works:
Coconut oil is an emollient and a protectant. It has the nature to heal and dry the wounds and scabs or acne too. This is why, when you have chicken pox, you are advised to rub coconut oil on the blisters that puss and ooze out from the scabs. Coconut oil is also antimicrobial and antibacterial by nature, which means, it helps arrest the production of virus and bacteria, and also replenishes the moisture levels in the skin. Coconut oil also helps form an antimicrobial barrier onto the skin and helps protect the skin from the redness and itchiness associated with chicken pox.
9. Cocoa Butter
What all you need:
- A tab of cocoa butter
Directions:
- Gently massage the cocoa butter onto the affected area
- Wait for ten minutes
- Wipe off with a damp warm cloth
How it works:
Cocoa butter has plenty of antioxidants which helps inhibit the formation of free radicals and promotes cell boosting and stimulation too. Cocoa butter is also a cleansing agent and refines the skin tone and cleans the pores of the skin as well. The content of cocoa butter helps with skin hydration levels and also helps trap the moisture into the skin. Finally, it is also a healer which helps heal the scabs the wounds.
10. Lavender Oil
What all you need:
- A few drops of lavender oil
- A night penetrating cream
Directions:
- Mix the lavender oil with the night penetrating cream
- Apply the mixture onto the spots with the help of ear buds
- Let it settle into the skin
- Wipe off the remaining after five minutes
How it works:
Night penetrating creams are heavy and they go deep into the skin to emolliate and to moisturize the skin, helping with skin cell turnover and regeneration. Lavender oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties, which deals with the infections. It also helps heal the itchy scratchy blisters that ooze and puss out too.
11. Calendula Oil
What all you need:
- A few drops of calendula oil
- A night penetrating cream
Directions:
- Mix the two to form a paste
- Apply the same on the skin’s affected spots
- Wait for ten minutes
- Wipe off
- Pat dry
How it works:
Night penetrating creams are heavy and they go deep into the skin to emolliate and to moisturize the skin, helping with skin cell turnover and regeneration. Calendula oil is calming and soothing to the skin, and it is also potent and strong enough to deal with bacteria, viruses and the free radicals too.
12. Essential Oils Mix
What all you need:
- A few drops of lactic acid
- A few drops of lavender oil
- A few drops of calendula oil
- A few drops of chamomile oil
- A few drops of rosemary oil
Directions:
- Mix all the ingredients
- Apply gently onto the affected areas of the face and the body
- Gently massage into the skin
How it works:
Lactic acid is meant to illuminate and exfoliate the skin. Rosemary oil stimulates the skin and is an antiseptic. Lavender oil is stimulating and a healing agent. Calendula is meant to soothe and calm the skin. Chamomile is meant to bring back stimulation and cell metabolism into the skin.
13. Avocado (Vitamin E Source)
What all you need:
- An avocado slice
Directions:
- Paste the avocado slice
- Apply gently onto the affected areas of the face and the body
- Gently massage into the skin
How it works:
Avocados are rich in essential fatty acids which is why it is used as an excellent moisturizer for the skin. The fruit paste also helps cover up the black spots left behind by the pox attack and attacks intra cellular debris and exfoliates the skin too. What is most important in avocado is the source of vitamin E in it, which gently replicates the healthy lipid layers of the skin and also protects the skin from malnourishment and dehydration too.
14. Sandalwood Paste
What all you need:
- A teaspoon of sandalwood powder
- Milk and honey, a teaspoon each
Directions:
- Mix all the ingredients with each other to form a paste
- Apply gently onto the affected areas of the face and the body
- Gently massage into the skin
How it works:
The agent honey, is known for its refining properties and natural moisturizing effects too. It is anti ageing by nature and helps do away with blemishes, spots and marks on the face and the body as well. Sandalwood paste is antibacterial by nature and a coolant too, and it helps with healing and calming the skin, and soothing it as well. Milk and honey are refiners and moisturizers for the skin, and milk has lactic acid in it which helps lighten the dark spots on the skin too.
15. Cucumber
- What all you need:
- Slices of cucumber
- A teaspoon of lime juice
Directions:
- Mash the slices of cucumber
- Mix the juice of lime into it
- Apply gently onto the affected areas of the face and the body
- Gently massage into the skin
How it works:
The vitamin C in lime also nourishes the skin and the lime extracts treats the dark spots and lightens the skin too. The agent honey, is known for its refining properties and natural moisturizing effects too. Cucumber is an astringent and a coolant for the skin. It calms the skin, soothes it and refines the pores, and hydrates the skin too.
16. Neem Leaves
What all you need:
- A cup of neem leaves
- A dash of lime juice
- Cucumber slices
Directions:
- Make a paste of all the ingredients
- Apply gently onto the affected areas of the face and the body
- Gently massage into the skin
How it works:
The vitamin C in lime also nourishes the skin and the lime extracts treats the dark spots and lightens the skin too. The agent honey, is known for its refining properties and natural moisturizing effects too. Cucumber is an astringent and a coolant for the skin. It calms the skin, soothes it and refines the pores, and hydrates the skin too. Neem paste is anti bacterial and anti microbial, and fights the infection and bacteria while healing the skin.
17. Stay Hydrated
What all you need:
- Drink a lot of water
Directions:
- 8 Glasses of water per day
How it works:
The spots would only stay when the scabs remain, and the scabs turn itchy and scratchy because of the puss oozing out and the blisters turning dry. This means, the lack of water and hydration in the body is only aggravating the pox and making it uneasy for you. So drink a lot of water.
Here were the many home remedies that we promised to share with you. Now let’s take more tips to deal with chicken pox scars, with a homemade cream for chicken pox scar removal.
Homemade Cream for Chickenpox Scars
With baking soda
Things you need:
- Lemon essential oil- ½ tsp
- Cocoa butter – ½ tsp
- Coconut oil – 12 tbsp
- Vitamin E oil – 2 tbsp
- A saucepan
Things you should do:
- Start by pouring the cocoa butter and the coconut oil in a low pan
- Warm it up on medium heat and melt them
- Take it off the pan when fully melted from the heat
- Add the vitamin E oil
- Add the lemon essential oil
- Mix well and allow it to settle and cool
- Allow it to solidify
- Store in an airtight container
- Use it daily on the spots
- Use it three times daily for best results
We hope this information on chicken pox scar removal comes in handy.
Disclaimer: Please do consult your doctor before trying out any of these home remedies. The ideas here are for pure information only and not the substitute to what your doctor would advise. His words would take precedence over what is taken here and elsewhere online.