Q: MY daughter has chicken pox at the moment (fifth day). It has affected her whole body, especially her face. Three big spots on her forehead have burst, leaving deep holes. Will there be dark scars after they dry up?

A: CHICKEN pox is a viral infection and is highly contagious. Rashes will appear on the back and chest and then spread to the rest of the body.

These rashes are itchy and will shrivel up as scabs within a few days.

These will fall off in about a week.

During this period, it is very important to keep your daughter from scratching to avoid further infection if the skin is broken. Soothing lotions may be applied to relieve the itch.

In the case where spots unintentionally burst, they should be cleaned with an antiseptic solution. A diluted 100 per cent pure tea tree oil works well for this purpose. Apart from that, gels containing herbs such as tea tree oil, chamomile, echinacea and myrrh can also speed up the healing process.

You may want to try a tea tree oil skin repair gel containing all these beneficial herbs. Dietary wise, vitamins A, C, E and zinc are essential to the regeneration of new skin. Vitamin C is needed to form the collagen of skin and to repair tissue.

Zinc is important as this mineral aids in wound healing. Try to look for a product that combines all these nutrients to achieve better results.

Apart from that, evening primrose oil and fish oil rich in essential fatty acids are also beneficial for the skin.

You may consider supplementing her diet with a combination of 80 per cent evening primrose oil and 20 per cent fish oil to reduce inflammation and further improve her condition.

Besides that, it is important that she eat a well-balanced diet consisting of adequate protein with a generous helping of vegetables and fruits. Encourage her to drink six to eight glasses of water daily and to look after her personal hygiene.

　　From Healthy.net