Chicken pox and oats

Lotus-eater

My little one has chicken pox, I understand that a oat bath can help with the itching.
Does anyone have any idea how long this will help? I want to give him a bath now, but it may be better to wait to just before he goes to bed.

jenniewb

I don't know about the non itching properties of oats, but they are known for softening skin and can be used as an exfoliant if you wrap them in a muslin cloth. Its a cheap remedy (run an oat filled muslin cloth under the hot tap as you fill a bath or use the oat filled muslin knot -without scratching ! as you shower). If it doesn't work there are many recipies you can use with them, from breakfast porridge through to crumbles, flapjacks and even with soups and crispy toppings for roast dinners.

Have you tried Eurax? That stuff works really well for me- I have bouts of eczema and in the past have had psoriosis (sp!) litchen planus and have had friends with shingles (similar to chicken pox) who also said it helped. Its not very cheap but it is affordable and apparently not available on prescription. The cream works much better then the lotion in my experience.

There are many other itch relief lotions and creams you could also try such as calamine lotion which is very mild but can help take the edge off things.

Also, pills! I know it may sound odd but ibuprofen helps a little- BUT if your taking other medication, its very important to ask your GP or a pharmacist if its OK to take them both together and how much to take.


I hope things get better soon.

cyclingyorkie

I had oat baths when I had chicken pox - (1993 - I was pregnant at the time). I put the oats in some thin cotton and tied it with a rubber band and put it in the bath water.

And re calamine lotion - it can help with itching but it really dried my skin out....

getcarter

I used to use an old sock to put oats in then put in bath!

Skymist

I had chicken pox when I was 5....a VERY long time ago, am 62 now! LOL...and my Mum dabbed calamine lotion on them, which she told me did the trick, ie reduced the itchiness, for when my son had chicken pox.

S

ellay864

When I had chickenpox at age 20 and then when my kids had it as toddlers, I used baths of bicarb, quite a lot of the bicarb and water just not much more than lukewarm. It eased the itching brilliantly and I found it much better than calamine

zoesmummy_2006

my lil lad woke up with the pox on xmas day and I got a gel lotion called virasoothe from the chemist, you can buy it in boots etc, and it was fab, cooled the itching and he has very minimal scarring. another option for with the oats in the bath, as well as a dose of piriton if needed.

building_with_lego

If you have lavender essential oil you can dab a drop on each spot, or put 5- 10 drops in the bath, depending on the age of the child. The lavender soothes the skin and also helps with sleeeeeeep
Hope he feels better soon!