Many people contract chicken pox when they are young. Usually, the scars from chicken pox will disappear because the skin is young and will rejuvenate faster. However, there are some cases where the scars simply did not disappear, or chicken pox developed during adulthood, causing unsightly scaring.
Natural Home Remedies for Chicken Pox Scars
There are many natural remedies that may help alleviate or reduce the look of chicken pox scars. These include:
- Baking Soda — Mix baking soda with water to make a paste that is applied to the scars. Let dry and then rinse away.
- Coconut Water — Apply coconut water to the scars daily.
- Honey — Apply honey to the scars and leave on the skin for about a half hour, then rinse away.
- Aloe Vera — Use the gel inside of the aloe vera leaf. Simply apply the gel, let it dry and rinse off.
- Lemon Juice — Rubbing lemon juice on the scars can rejuvenate the skin.
Surgical Remedies for Chicken Pox Scars
If the scars are particularly deep or discolored, surgical remedies might be the best option. The size and depth of the scars will determine which options or combination of options will provide the best results.
Smaller scars can be treated using punch excision, where the scar is actually excised using an instrument that resembles a tiny cookie cutter. The scar is cut away and the incision is sutured.
Punch elevation is another method that uses punch instrument; however, instead of removing the scar, it is lifted above the surface of the skin and then fixed into place.
Dermabrasion and microneedling can also be used to smooth the scar away. In cases of larger scars, a combination of subcision and microneedling may be indicated. In this treatment, the scar is “subcised” by inserting a needle under the scar to break the bands of fibrous scar tissue. This tissue then “floats” to the surface and is then microneedled to cause the scar to blend into the surface of the skin.
Laser therapy can also be very beneficial in some cases. Laser energy is directed at the scars to improve/reduce the appearance of the scars.
Skin & Vein
If you are concerned about chicken pox scars or other similar scarring, please contact us at the Skin & Vein Center. We will discuss your options to help you gain clearer, healthy skin.