Another chicken pox scar post from me again

[Ktmummy1]

I'm sorry I keep posting about this, but my daughter (now 2y10m) had chicken pox in mid April. She has been left with severe pock marks-about 20/30 indented marks on her face. For anyone whose children have had indentations, should I be seeing a vast improvement by now? The colour is gradually fading although returns when hot/upset/tired. Some around the top of her forehead are improving and less deep but the ones on her temple, between her eyebrows are still v severe. I will attach a photo of the temple ones so you can picture what I'm talking about. These marks are all over her forehead. Has anyone had a child with this degree of scarring. What was the timescale with regards to healing? And the end result?

As you may be able to tell, I am finding it very upsetting still.

[image removed by MNHQ]

[jamaisdeux]

That is nothing. You should see my DD (7) enormous holes, so much worse than yours. It is breaking my heart.

I am putting Argan oil on her skin.
Just the face, her body is fine.
Interested to see responses.

[Ktmummy1]

This is just part of it jamais I didn't want to put a full picture on. Where on your daughters face are the marks? How old is she, please pm if you want to discuss as I know how heartbreaking it is x

[jamaisdeux]

DD is 7, just recovered now, they are all over her poor face. It is dreadful, one crater between her eyes.

Seriously, I don't know what to do.
She had perfect skin.

[jamaisdeux]

I have been on so many CP threads this week, it seems like there is an epidemic.

[Ktmummy1]

My daughters were so much worse than this at first, this is 3.5 months after she was ill. She also has craters between her eyes(about 7 just between eyes) are the marks on the rest of your daughter also craters?

[SaulGood]

I've talked to you about this before. I do understand, I really do but they will get so much better. They already look better. I promise you in a year's time they will be very different again. The skin stretching as she grows will make a big difference.

My dd was 3 when she had the pox and they were significantly worse than those pictured. She had massive craters, a cm in diameter. Cheeks, forehead, temples, nose etc. She is 8 now and they are really not noticeable. They're there and always will be but I don't 'see' them iyswim. Other people definitely don't notice them.

You look at her and you see the scars. I promise you they're not as noticeable as you think they are and they will get better. She is young, she is healthy and she is growing. These are all things in her favour.

I know you are worried, hence the multiple posts but it IS early days. Truly.

[DreamingOfTheBeach]

Sadly both mine had scarring on there faces too.
They had chicken pox when they were 2 and 4 years and are now 6 and 8 years old.
The scars which are like little round holes never really faded.
But the less deep ones have over time blended and faded .
I'd recommend bio oil
Don't be too sad about them, they do fade and you stop seeing them.
I will try and find some photos for you of mine.

[PacificDogwood]

Scars take 1-2 years to 'mature' i.e. shrink and settle to what they will be like longterm.
She's young, she's healthy and well nourished - she'll do just fine.
Stop looking at them if you can help it.
Creams/oils are fine but won't make a difference really; her outcome depends much more on her genetic predisposition to scarring.

[Alibabsandthe40Musketeers]

It is very soon for the scars to be going, only 3 months.

DS1 had chicken pox 3.5 years ago and had one bad scar just to the right of his nose. It is now faded to the point where for 10 months of the year you don't see it - I can see it just now because he has a little bit of a tan and it shows silvery against it.

[BerniceBroadside]

My DC has some facial scarring from cp, but I don't really notice it now.

There is a silicone gel you can purchase which apparently helps scarring, although I don't know if it will help with cp scars. Think it's called Dermatix?

[Ktmummy1]

Thanks for the comments so far. I really find it so helpful to read all the contributions, it's interesting to hear the different experiences. I am hopeful that my dd scars will continue to improve but am also sadly realising that her skin will never return to how perfect it once was. She's still my beautiful girl, and she isn't aware at all. x

[IAmAPaleontologist]

ds2 had in in feb (badly, hospitaland IVs job) and still has a lot of marks. they will fade in time. ds1 was very pox marked after his, he was around 3 or 4. he is 8 now, the pitted marks on his face are hardly visible just a little more pale than the rest of his skin.

[Moka1234]

Hi all. Ktmummy1 & jamaisdeux have your daughters' marks improved since you've last posted? I hope so and hope that your are less upset by them.

My 3 year old son and 17 months old daughter have recently had chickenpox and my son has been left with indents on his face and more indents and flat white marks on his body. My daughter too has a few marks but nothing in comparison and luckily none on her face. Neither have scratched.

I have been using moisturisers twice daily, bio-oil every now and again and some homeopathic remedies for my son (never tried homeopathy before). I'm truly gutted about it but also know that it's still early days. Looking for some reassurance and support I guess.
Thanks

[fresta]

Don't forget that your dd's face is still very small, as her face gets bigger the scars will stay the same size and won't look as big in comparison to her face as they do right now.

[ktmummy1]

Hi Moka. My dd still has indents but they are way better than they were. It has been 8.5 months since the pox. I am happy to pm if you like. Other mums gave me (and still do) wonderful support. I know how upsetting it is. The main thing to remember is that the colour goes completely skin coloured after 6/7 months and then the pock marks are barely visible. Many of my daughters flattened, particularly the ones around her hairline. The temple ones are less deep but still indented and noticeable in certain lights. The ones between her eyes are still there but I'm hopeful they will continue to improve. Pm me if you want and I will send you more info x

[QueenMolotov]

I had CP when I was 5yo and it left 5 large, deep 'craters' on my face. The worst is on the side of my nose. I think it might be to do with skin type? Mine are the largest and most pitted scars of anyone I've met IRL. When my own dds had chickenpox and I was worried they'd scar as I did, but they were fortunate and were only left with a couple of small scars on their faces and white blemishes on their bodies.

My scars were massive when I was little but my DM downplayed it and I think this is very important for you to do, OP. You say that your little girl has no idea - keep it that way. Don't give her a complex about it. In the grand scheme of things, it's small, although I do understand where you're coming from. My mum would always say to me things like 'you'll grow into them' - which I have, really. As my body has grown, the craters have flattened out to a degree and are skin-coloured. My skull has obviously grown and the skin has stretched and for your dd, that will reverse a lot of the damage you see now in her very young, very delicate skin. Her skin texture will change as she grows, too, and this will be good for the scars healing.

I can still feel a dent in my nose (am 33yo now) but it really isn't an issue. In fact, those scars are a part of me and I would not change them. I know I could have sub-dermal fillers to plump them, but I don't want to. FWIW, the scars have never affected friendships or attracting boyfriends.

With reference to what you said about your dd having perfect skin before - you didn't love her more before because she had perfect skin, did you? You don't love her less now she isn't 'perfect', do you? Of course, the answer to both is 'no', so just keep loving her and let the fear and panic wash over you. She is okay and time will heal her skin. Your dd will be a teenager one day anyway, probably with pimples which might also leave their mark on her skin (I have small pitted scars from teenage acne on my temples) and you will love her just as much. Just try to relax about her scars, as she is coming close to an age where she will pick I on your anxiety about her appearance.

[QueenMolotov]

Sorry, only just noticed this is an old thread!

[herewearenowentertainus]

well i've really appreciated your post queenmolotov, was absolutely lovely and calming. i'm looking at all the cp scars threads i can find lately as struggling to come to terms with 2 dc pitted scars on faces, dd has 26 noticeable dents on her face. comments like yours are so helpful.

[RainbowInACloud]

Hello, my son had a bad case of CP when he was 2 and was left with facial scarring on his nose and forehead. I was upset initially but now he's 8 and they are noticeable but I don't see them, I just see his beautiful face.
I've always taught him that they are what makes him 'him' and that he is more beautiful for them. People sometimes ask what they are and I told him to be honest and straightforward or if he felt comfortable to say they were from a shark attack etc. which appeals to his daft sense of humour.
They have caused him no bother and I do believe that he is more beautiful because of them