Chicken Pox Scars
Conditions
What are Chicken Pox Scars?
The chicken pox is a contagious and common disease that is the result of a viral infection. This illness causes itchy, tiny red bumps to cover your whole body. Although this disease is temporary, it can leave long-lasting effects on your body in the form of scars.
Common Chicken Pox Scar Traits:
- Round (approximately 5-10mm in diameter)
- Sunken (atrophic)
- Darker or lighter in colour than the unaffected surrounding skin
These scars form due to the destruction of collagen. If there is insufficient collagen and elastin production while the skin recovers from a chicken pox blister, the surface of the skin cannot be repaired properly. The texture of the affected area becomes irregular and sunken.
What causes chicken pox scars?
The development of chicken pox most often occurs in childhood. As a child, it is especially hard for you to resist the urge to scratch these itchy bumps. Unfortunately, scratching and irritating these bumps could lead to permanent scarring. If you itch these bumps, you could also cause a bacterial infection of the skin which will harm your skin and cause improper healing. Creating a bacterial infection of the skin will cause inflammation and will ultimately reduce the collagen and fat below the surface of your skin. Chicken pox scars are typically circular indentations of the skin that may also be discolored. They look very similar to acne scars.
What can worsen chicken pox scars?
There are some things to avoid when you are healing from chicken pox because they could worsen the appearance of your scars. For preventing permanent scarring, it is crucial not to expose your skin to sunlight without proper protection. Sun exposure could cause further discoloration to your scars and slow down your skin’s healing process.
It is also very important not to continue to scratch or pick at your chicken pox spots. Picking at your skin can cause more inflammation, deeper skin irritation and further damage your skin’s collagen.
Although some have said topical vitamin E can help heal scars, studies have proven otherwise. It has been found that if you apply the vitamin directly to your scars, you could interrupt the healing process and make your scars look worse.
How can chicken pox scars be treated?
Some of your chicken pox scars will gradually fade. Unfortunately, most of them are so deep that they will be a permanent part of your life, unless you seek some sort of treatment. You can consult with a doctor to discuss those treatment options. For at-home solutions, you could use lightening creams to improve the hyperpigmentation of your scars. As far as improving the texture of your skin, you will have to focus on tissue repair for natural results.
Chicken pox scars can be challenging to treat, but with the right skin assessment and medical aesthetic guidance, a dramatic improvement can certainly be achieved. We have successfully treated a number of patients affected by chicken pox scars.
Each patient requires a unique course of treatment that may involve one or more types of the following medical aesthetic technologies:
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion encourages your skin to replace damaged tissue with healthier, more vibrant tissue, thereby getting rid of chicken pox scars.
Chemical Peels
A study found that a series of chemical peels significantly improves the appearance of chicken pox scars by reducing their textural and tonal irregularity. The strength of a peel will be customized according to the severity of your scar.
Microneedling
Microneedling device that boosts collagen and capillary production, replacing damaged scar tissue to make the complexion more even in texture and color.
Laser Rejuvenation
Laser-based treatments can also target chicken pox scars. Both the capillaries and tissue are positively affected with intense pulsed light energy, causing a rejuvenation of your complexion at the cellular level. Collagen production is also enhanced, smoothing the surface of your skin. A bonus: it also helps reduce and eliminate the appearance of wrinkles and redness!
PRP
We offer a Free Evaluation to examine your skin. During your evaluation, we perform a Visia Skin Analysis to determine if there are any underlying conditions. Based on your skin type and severity of issues, we can determine the most effective protocols for your treatment. Just click on the link below and schedule a Free Evaluation.
