Chicken pox scars

[Hartey40]

I really need to find someone in the same position as me and my family. Some of you may already know or have read threads about my dd's scars from chicken pox. And there have been a couple of mums in particular who have been very supportive.

Its now 6 months since my gorgeous daughter had this horrible disease and each day I am struggling to cope with the effects it has had

Hi @Hannahamym , sorry I’ve just seen these messages. My daughter had CP 9 months ago now. The scars and holes in her skin were horrendous and I honestly didn’t think there was anyway they would clear up. I don’t think I saw much improvement in them for a good few months but now 9 months on you can barely see them. All the pitted scars have filled in. Luckily she didn’t have many on her face, but she did have one large one above her eyebrow and this is barely visible now. She has a couple of cigarette burn type marks (although very faint) on her legs and stomach still but I guess these will continue to get better. But all the ones on her back have completely cleared up. As a lot of people have said they have just left slighter whiter areas of skin which you don’t really notice unless she goes in the sun.
I used Tamanu balm and dermatix scar cream. I was honestly traumatised by how her skin was. I did everything and I saw specialists but really I think it’s just a matter of time. Try not to worry too much because they will get better

@Nonstop24 thank you so much for replying. Do you recommend dermatix scar cream? I've read that silicone doesn't help depressed scars so I haven't brought any but when you Google pitted scars nothing positive comes up, it says they'll be like it for life so your message is reassuring x

It was a couple of months before I started using the dermatix because like you I read that it wasn’t for pitting scars. However I saw a dermatologist and he advised dermatix. I don’t know how much good it did but all I can say is that considering how my daughters skin looked, it is amazing now. I also had read everywhere that there is nothing you can do for pitted Cp scars and was SO upset over it, however except for two tiny marks, they’ve all filled in perfectly. You honestly would not believe the photos from 9 months ago to now

@Nonstop24 thank you so much for replying. How did you incorporate dermatix if you dont mind me asking? Did you use before moisturiser and Sun cream? In morning and again at night before moisturiser? Xx

Hello, apologies to resurrect an old thread but I’m reading it and so much resonates with me. My DD(8) had CP over Xmas and has been left with some awful scars on her forehead, they’re angry, red and indented (maybe about 1mm). I’m so upset about it I’ve actually been signed off work with anxiety for a few weeks, the feelings of guilt and worry are off the scale (when I write this down it sounds ridiculous considering how many worse things can happen but my mind just cannot stop spiralling over this and worrying she is permanently scarred). Please could I ask how your LO’s scars are doing now? I’m living in hope that as she grows the scars will fill out and become less but I just don’t know. Feeling a bit hopeless right now. Thank you

Oh bless you, honestly I know how you feel. My DC eventually filled in but the new skin is lighter. Honestly, it’s took a while to start seeing an improvement. You are still very early days so please don’t worry, it will improve. Xx

Hi @Whiterabbit88Thank you so much for replying. The waiting game is so hard and I’ve weirdly developed an obsession with looking at people’s foreheads, thinking well surely she will improve because I have never seen someone and thought they have awful CP scars! It’s just so hard going to school and seeing all the other children with unblemished skin. My DD is completely unperturbed by it so I’m just being careful it stays that way, I’m massaging in rosehip oil morning and night and applying some Aveeno, trying to sell it as her little bit of ‘spa time’ - she quite likes the pampering while reading a book! How long would you say it took for you to see a noticeable improvement? X

I know what you mean! I spent hours when DC was asleep examining the marks shining my phone light on them to see if they had improved! I did use Tamanu oil for abit (it’s a nut oil) as it’s supposed to encourage skin growth. I tried all sorts to be honest but I think that worked the best. I would say at least 6 months until we saw an improvement. I know it’s difficult, honestly, I felt the same as you x

Thank you @Whiterabbit88 It’s so nice to get some perspective from someone who has been there. This feels like such a lonely place, everything you see online is very much just focused on permanent scarring and that there’s nothing you can do once the damage is done, so it’s nice to hear positive stories 😊

Here are two photos of my dd. What I described as a crater in 2011 is still there but it’s definitely far less noticeable than it was. I haven’t got a photo of what it was like because cameras weren’t so good I suppose and when you zoom in you can’t see it. She had chicken pox when she was three so in 2006. The marks were red at the time. They haven’t got any bigger as she has grown bigger.

The ones on her limbs are no longer there but like I said before she spent a lot of time in the sun. I don’t know about the ones on her body as I haven’t seen it for a long time.

Thank you @savoycabbage for replying, you can really see the difference between the two photos. The redness in my daughter’s scars is reducing and I’m maybe starting to see a tiny bit of filling in but not sure if that’s my eyes being hopeful, have to keep remembering it’s early days! Have bought some Manuka honey today as recommended by @Whiterabbit88- please can I ask how often you applied it? Have been reading about it and it certainly sounds like it could really help. Thank you

We used at once a day. I usually applied when DC was asleep for ease!

Thank you so much for your advice, much appreciated