Relieving the symptoms of chicken pox

lynne adamson, 4 months

cut off the foot of a pair of tights fill with porridge oats and put it in a warm bath squeezing out the milky stuff that comes out into the water it contains aveeno which calms the itching.both my children have the dreaded pox and they ask to go in the bath.then smother them in calamine aqueous and eurax mixed together very sticky but it really helps them get some relief.think i will try the lavender oil in the bath too.good luck to all

kimberleigh, 5 months

My 5 year old son has come down with the chicken poxs and he has had the rash for 3 days now.The best thing i have found is 4 or 5 baths in a day with Bicarbonate of Soda and then using an Aloe Vera Spray-let that dry and then using the Aloe Vera Gel.Along with that i have been giving him Piriton syrup.I was told that Calamine Lotion was not the best to use as when it drys it has a powdery consistancy to it which can actually get into the burst spots and cause infections.So i decided to try the Aloe Vera Gel and its fab,just keep it in the fridge and it seems to stop the itch fast,the only down side to it is it is very sticky and takes a while to dry so clothes can stick to it so maybe try a cotton shirt from dad! He is covered in them,he has them in his ears,alot in his hair and body is covered in them but i am concerened about one he has amonst his eye lashes as it has made his eye very blood shot,have been advised to use 1 pint of warm boiled water to a teaspoon of salt to bathe it as that is the consistancy of natural tears so it wont sting!Hope any of the above helps someone out there cos this is a nightmare!!!!

phil, 8 months

a mix of piriton anc fucidin cream works wounders STOPS the itching in its tracks

Sam Painter, 10 months

Oh what a night-mare,our son Morgan has the worst Chicken Pox I have ever seen in all 6 of my sons & many friends kids. He did escape it though for the 6 months that it's been going round & now its here-real bad. Does anyone know-QUICKLY what THE BEST remedy for the itching is? We dosed him up last night with Piriton & it did nothing-he is a fighter though!! He did not sleep at all -neither did we-& we nearly divorced last night!! Help-Thanx pepi

Christine, about 1 year

I have just read Sue's comments regarding Rhus Tox. My grandson, aged 2 has chickenpox at the moment. I have Rhus Tox given to me in tablet form from homeopath. Can this be given to children. The dose is 6c.

sue, about 1 year

The best thing for chicken pox for the itching is Rhus Tox they are homeapathic (hope I spelt it right) they are fab.

Kym, about 1 year

Sam - as far as I have found paracetamol is fine it is only aspirin which is dangerous. I am on my fourth child, who is only 8 months and got it the worst, with chicken pox and found bathing in bicarbenate of soda and aloe vera gel the easiest and most effective.

stuart, about 1 year

i am 29 yrs old and have just caught chicken pox, i found that bathing in tea tree oil helped with the itcing and seemed to reduce the redness

kellie, about 1 year

My 5yr old son has recently come out in chicken pox,and hes been fine with it but im really worried about when my 17month old catches it.He isnt the greatest sleeper at the moment anyway and im just dreading it getting any worse.

Jeanette, about 1 year

My 15 month old had chickenpox at christmas. I searched the internet for herbal remadies and found Colloidal Silver. It is a little expensive but really good stuff, you could see the redness fade within a day. I would recommend this.

Dawn, about 1 year

To Vicky: You are thinking of Gentian Violet

Emma, about 1 year

I was advised a few years ago (when my 14mth old got chicken pox) to use the usual calamine cream/lotion but to bath them in Bicarbonate of Soda too. I did this and it seemed to help. My youngest (18mths) has sprouted the tell tale spots this morning so I'll be using the same again. I have to say, he's driven me mad this last few weeks, constant whinging, tired, couldn't please him no matter what I did - now I know why!!! Strange thing is, he's happy as larry this morning now the spots are out.

ruth, about 1 year

i have found Aloe Vera Gel helps, keep it in the fridge and it cools and soothes the itchy spots, and it can be applied as often as you want

Vicky, about 1 year

Does anyone remember having chicken pox as a kid and being covered in a purple stain called violet jensen? It was fantastic at stopping the itching - can't find it on the web anywhere!

sam, about 1 year

The emial from Elizabeth scares me. She says she has been adivsed by " doctors never to use paracetamol or aspirin as it can react with the infection and cause Reye syndrome, leading to possible liver failure and chance of death" . I am aware that asprin is dangerous but was not aware that paracetamol was. Can this be confirmed. I noticed lots of other people on your tips page have used parametamol as I have been doing.

elizabeth, about 1 year

can i just point out, i have been warned by doctors never to use paracetamol or aspirin as it can react with the infection and cause Reye syndrome, leading to possible liver failure and chance of death

Tamara, about 1 year

My two year old daughter is just recovering from a severe bout of chicken pox and the itching has driven her mad. I found the best thing for the itching was Piriton syrup, it pretty much stopped it dead. Also I found aqueos calamine lotion better than the standard clamine lotion and much easier to apply as it just like a cream and they can apply it themselves.

lindsay, about 1 year

my daughter is age 3 and has chicken pox all over her body, i was told which hasel was good so i thought i wud try it and i found it great realy helps 2 stop the itchin and sum piriton from the doctors with regular paracetamol makes them tip top hope this helps

Kathy Smith, about 1 year

I have had 3 children that have suffered with Chicken Pox. The best advise ever given to me was to allow the children to bathe for as long as they wanted twice a day in either Savlon liquid anticeptic or Dettol anticeptic in dilution as per the instructions on the label. Calamine Lotion does reduce the itching for a short time but the anticeptic helps the spots to heal quicker. Calpol on a regular basis keeps the aching at bay and wearing nothing but Dad's T-Shirts helps keep the skin cool in between doses of medicine and bathing.

IDIN, about 1 year

i am 19 years old & i never had chicken pox before i had it 2 months ago i caught it from a nursery & i've been using bio oil which is making a huge difference but most of my scars are still on my face & all over my bodt i dont know what else to do & am really worried because its killing my confidence i cant lok people in the eye because i feel ashamed of myself eventhough its not my fault any tips & advice??

janetcowan, about 1 year

the information for the help to keep the itch down is very good and we are going to use them

janetcowan, about 1 year

we found the hints for chicken pox itch very good and the other information also very good and we are going to try them

helen, over 2 years

its my mums birthday party today and my neice who is 2 years old has caught the chicken pox and my 4 month old nephew is coming to the party do you think i should mix them up or should my neice stay at home?

lucille o'flanagan, over 2 years

I dont live in the UK so I dont know the "cold remedy" this lady mentions ... but I must point out that if it contains Asperin - the it must NOT be given to childen with chickenpox ! please put a note on your "tips" page about the dangers of asperin and the benefits of say ibuprofin good luck