Chickenpox – what can help

Chickenpox is itchy, contagious, and can be unpleasant – especially in adults. Find out what treatment you may need if you catch it later in life.

What are the symptoms?

When to seek urgent medical care 

What causes it and who is affected? 

When to see a doctor 

How is chickenpox treated? 

How to self-care for chickenpox

Prevention tips

Chickenpox causes itchy, contagious spots that blister and crust over within a couple of weeks. Most people catch it in childhood, but if you catch it for the first time as an adult, it can make you feel quite unwell. Find out how to manage symptoms, stop the scratch, and feel better.

Caused by the contagious varicella-zoster virus, chickenpox is easily recognized by its itchy, distinctive rash.

The rash starts off as a few red spots and quickly spreads, evolving into fluid-filled blisters. The blisters crust over and start to fade after a week or so, but you are still infectious until the very last one has scabbed over.

Although it’s mostly mild, chickenpox can be unpleasant – especially in adults, where symptoms can linger for longer and there’s a risk of developing health problems. 

Fortunately, if you do get it, there are ways to self-treat symptoms and manage your illness at home. 

From soothing the itch to knowing when to see the doctor, here’s what you should know.

## What are the symptoms?

Chickenpox is best known for its itchy rash, which has 3 different stages:

- Stage 1: red spots appear, typically on your chest, back, or face. These soon spread to other parts of the body and may look pink or dark, depending on your skin color
- Stage 2: the red spots turn into large, fluid-filled blisters that are very itchy and can burst
- Stage 3: the blisters crust over and become scabs that eventually heal and fade.

New spots can appear while some are crusting over, so it’s possible to have spots, blisters, and scabs all at the same time.

They can also appear on any part of your body, even on your genitals and inside your mouth. Adults may get a lot more spots than children do, and feel more unwell with it.

You may also have:

- a fever
- aches and pains
- tiredness
- a headache
- no appetite.

These symptoms may start before the rash appears. 

Get help with this

## When to seek urgent medical care 

Get an urgent doctor’s appointment if you or your child have chickenpox symptoms that are getting worse, you’re dehydrated, have a high fever, or have skin that’s hot and red around the spots. 

Also see a doctor urgently if you’re pregnant or you have a weakened immune system and think you have symptoms – or you have been around someone with symptoms – and you’ve not had chickenpox before. 

Get urgent medical advice if you think your newborn baby has chickenpox.

## What causes it and who is affected? 

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. The virus spreads easily, either by touching someone who has it, or by breathing in droplets that spread through the air from breathing, coughing, talking, or sneezing.

If you have never had chickenpox before then you’re at risk of catching it at any age. Some countries offer [vaccination for chickenpox](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/chickenpox#prevention), and in some areas it’s available privately. 

You’re more at risk of developing other health conditions from chickenpox if you catch it when you:

- are older (getting it as an adult rather than a child)
- are pregnant
- have a weakened immune system.

Once you’ve had chickenpox, you’re unlikely to get it again. However, it is possible to develop something called [shingles](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/shingles), a painful illness that can be triggered when you’re run down and you have a weakened immune system.

## When to see a doctor 

If you’re not sure you have chickenpox, or you’re worried about your child who has chickenpox symptoms, contact your doctor.

Make an [urgent doctor’s appointment](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/chickenpox#getting-urgent-help) if you’re pregnant, have a newborn baby with symptoms, or you have a weakened immune system.

As chickenpox is so infectious, it’s a good idea to let the doctor know you may have it, as there can be restrictions on you having an in-person appointment.

Most cases of chickenpox should get better on their own, with the help of [self-care](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/chickenpox#self-care), within a couple of weeks.

Rarely, complications such as skin infections, [pneumonia](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/pneumonia), and [sepsis](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/blood-poisoning) can develop if you have chickenpox as an adult. So, it’s important to see your doctor if your symptoms are not improving or are getting worse.

## How is chickenpox treated? 

If you get diagnosed in the early stages of chickenpox, your doctor may prescribe a course of antiviral medication, particularly if you’re pregnant, or have a weakened immune system.

Antivirals need to be started within 24 hours of your rash breaking out and could help reduce the severity of your chickenpox – and prevent complications. 

Otherwise, following self-care steps can help.


## How to self-care for chickenpox

The first thing you’ll want to do is soothe the itch but scratching the spots can lead to scarring and infection, so try to resist the urge. 

Keep your nails short and clean so there’s less risk of infection if you do scratch your skin.

To help manage the itching, try:

- applying over-the-counter cooling gels
- taking antihistamine medicine
- having cool/warm (not hot) showers or baths
- adding a sock full of oatmeal or baking soda to bath water
- wearing loose, cotton clothes
- staying hydrated with plenty of fluids (ice lollies are a good idea if your child is not drinking).

If you have a fever or aches and pains, take acetaminophen (paracetamol). Never take ibuprofen when you have chickenpox as this can cause skin infections.

## Prevention tips

If someone you know has chickenpox, and you’ve not had it, you’ll need to stay away from them.

Anyone with chickenpox should stay at home while they are infectious – until all the spots have crusted or scabbed over.

Chickenpox vaccinations can lower your risk of getting the virus. In countries like the US this is done routinely before children start school. It offers a 90% protection against chickenpox – and even if they still catch it, their symptoms will be milder.

In other areas like the UK, chickenpox vaccines are available via the NHS if you live with someone who has a weakened immune system (or you work in an environment where this is possible, such as in a hospital), and there’s a chance of passing on the virus. Otherwise, it’s possible to have the vaccine done privately (for a fee).

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References

Juliet Blank

Fiona Bugler

Dr Emily Blount

Article information

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Chickenpox is itchy, contagious, and can be unpleasant – especially in adults. Find out what treatment you may need if you catch it later in life.
