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Children's health

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Original poster

Chicken pox scars

28 replies

LilyPad150 · 05/07/2023 22:12

Hi,
My DD age 2.5 had chicken pox a month ago. She is left with some indented/red marks on her forehead. I didn’t think much of it then was told today by someone today that ‘those craters will scar’.

Any ideas on whether they will or anything to do about them?

OP posts:

WhyDoesChocolateTasteSoGood · 05/07/2023 23:23

They will fade and fill in more eventually. DS was absolutely coved in pox and has several like that. The only one still visible now as a teen is on his back.
Make sure she always has sunscreen on. Wounds that are exposed to sun do tend to scar more.

Original poster

LilyPad150 · 06/07/2023 20:55

Thanks for your reply 🤞🏼 I hope so!

OP posts:

Original poster

LilyPad150 · 09/07/2023 09:40

Scars seem to be getting redder- anyone had any experience of this?

OP posts:

Missmiller · 09/07/2023 18:12

They fade to skin colour eventually but it takes ages, like a year. The indents don’t always go, but improve lots over time.

StillWantingADog · 09/07/2023 18:15

My sons pretty bad pox scars took over a year to fade.
more concerning at the time was a Harry Potter style cut across his forehead

I was convinced he’d have it for life. He was 2 when he got it. It took 2/3 years I think but now invisible

young kids skin is amazing at healing

Fandabedodgy · 09/07/2023 18:25

I'm 49 and I can still see my childhood chicken pox scars I'm afraid. They are very faded. But still there.

Original poster

LilyPad150 · 09/07/2023 19:14

Thanks all, filled with lots of regrets of what I could have done differently now.

Fingers crossed for some good fading to take place over the next year.

OP posts:

ButterflyBitch · 09/07/2023 19:16

I had chicken pox as an adult and have a couple of scars on my face but they’re not noticeable now. One was quite bad at the time but is really have to look for it now. They’ll definitely fade and get smaller as time goes by so please don’t worry.

Fairymother · 09/07/2023 20:53

DD was 2 when she had it and had it really really bad with lots of spots that took ages to heal. She did get one scar from it though its a round dent right next to her eye and its pretty visible. Shes 7 now so we gave up on scar healing creams etc. used it for 2-3 years regularly to prevent scarring, but it didnt help.

Original poster

LilyPad150 · 09/07/2023 22:07

Thanks for your comments. Fingers crossed for some improvement. Feeling very down about it all.

OP posts:

Eac21 · 03/04/2024 22:09

How are you child’s scars doing from chicken pox? My little one has a few on her forehead and I am so worried!!

Original poster

LilyPad150 · 03/04/2024 22:43

@Eac21 they are much better now, we are nearly 10 months into the healing process and there is only one that is still noticeable- but that has gone down a lot. All skin colour now. One still indented but again, much better than previously. Will post a pic update in the morning. I still moisturise them before bed every night. But other than that I don’t really think/notice them anymore.

I felt so awful/guilty about it for so long but they really have improved a lot and I am now used to them. Try to not worry too much, they do improve but just need time.

OP posts:

Eac21 · 03/04/2024 22:50

Thank you so much for replying I have been sick to my stomach with so much regret. What do you think worked the best or was it just time? I have been using a scar serum. My son barely got any and they were not as big except the first one. I would do anything to get these off her face!

Original poster

LilyPad150 · 03/04/2024 23:17

@Eac21 I totally get you. I was a right state about it for weeks but after about 8 weeks I started to see some improvements.

I used ‘dermatix silicone gel’ twice a day for about 3 months. It was recommended by some fellow mumsnetters who had tried everything and had even spoke to dermatologists who had recommended it.

I also used ‘solution for scars’ to massage the scars about 3 minutes a day. I only used this for that purpose because the silicone gel is too sticky to massage with and I had already purchased this before switching to silicone gel. I’m sure a normal moisturiser would work just as well for this. I read on several comments that massaging helped with atrophic scars.

I never tried the scar serum you are using but I’m sure it will work just as good.

OP posts:

windysocks · 03/04/2024 23:30

My daughter had very deep scars from chickenpox that became infected when she was 7. Some kids at school picked on her because of it, she is 15 now, confident and beautiful. It was tough at times at primary but once she could wear a bit of makeup it helped her. Now she never mentions it x

musicalfrog · 03/04/2024 23:37

Don't feel guilty! You can do your best and be totally prepared and spend out on all the treatments... chicken pox will sometimes leave scars anyway. It's not anyone fault!

The scars become just another feature of that awesome little person, another detail by which to identify moments experienced in childhood. Part of the journey. ❤️

vipersnest1 · 03/04/2024 23:58

I had chickenpox as an adult. I looked as if someone had shot me with a shotgun - I was peppered with spots from head to toe.
I had to attend the wedding of my then husband's sister shortly after, and had a huge scab on my chin as I had picked it before I realised I had chickenpox. I peeled it off in the hope it would be less visible. It left a pretty big crater.
It was noticeable for a while (not as bad as a scab obviously!) but it eventually faded away.
Because your daughter is young, the marks will very likely fade very quickly, @LilyPad150.

Eac21 · 04/04/2024 04:24

Thank you so much. I feel like I should have vaccinated. I just never thought one child could have so many spots and the craters. I am so thankful for such helpful people. Are there any other suggestions? Thank you so very much.

Eac21 · 04/04/2024 22:06

@LilyPad150 Do you happen to have an updated picture? Also, you think the silicone is ok? I heard some people say it stops collagen production.

CyanBird · 04/04/2024 22:18

I used Dermatix gel on my daughters face and do feel it helped…. But they will fill in and become less noticeable on their own anyway x

Original poster

LilyPad150 · 05/04/2024 10:00

@Eac21 here is an update pic but they look much less noticeable in real life. I think the lighting and angle has made them look worse on here.

I too had reservations about the silicone gel as I’d read it stop collagen production but after speaking to others that had used it I thought- may as well try it. And I did see a difference using it so kept going for a few months. Have left them to naturally heal (apart from moisturiser at night) since November time.

I also kicked myself for not vaccinating, it took me a while to get over that but now the scars are just a part of her and in real life they aren’t that noticeable. How old is your DD?

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Eac21 · 05/04/2024 10:34

Thank you for sharing. She is 5. Did you have any little ones that went away? Also do you think there is anything else you can do or we just have to accept?

Original poster

LilyPad150 · 07/04/2024 08:38

@Eac21 she had some little ones that are now just little silvery marks that I think will definitely disappear. I think using a good scar serum type of gel and massaging them once or twice a day is the best you can do.

My DS was completely covered in hundreds of them, he had it much worse than my DD but only got one small scar on his cheek. I was completely baffled!

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Eac21 · 07/04/2024 09:53

Thank you for sharing. You didn’t do anything different? Did you put anything on them when they had blisters? Thank you for your input.

LoudFox · 29/04/2024 08:17

@LilyPad150 My three daughters ages 5, 3 and 1 all had chickenpox this easter, so a month ago. They all got it real bad and are left with several scars in their faces. Particularly the 3 year old had one deep scab in her temple that fell off and left a huge crater. It have made me devastaded and i am unable to think of anything else.

i am really hoping it will fill in to some extent, but deep down I am afraid it wont😢
i also read about silicone inhibiting collagen so have so far been using moisturizer and spf… your post gives me some hope it will improve in time🙄

attatched a picture, but it looks much deeper and redder in real life

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