You do not want your older child getting chickenpox! (psoriasis)

**Bettie May** · 22-05-2009, 10:22pm

I could cry right now for DD I really could.

After 17 days of severe chickenpox, infected spots and yukky hair....

The spots are still just as red as they were at the beginning. Her chest is completely healed but her back and arms look dreadful. At ballet this evening it was suggested I look into it further as they said it looked like hives (which it isn't as it's not itchy).

Her scalp has a thick coating of white, very hard skin which when I try to remove just comes back thicker and harder... I remembered my mum suffering from psoriasis in her scalp which was the same so googled and yes.... this picture on wiki is exactly what her body looks like right now too....

Apparently the body can get it following skin trauma/injury which I guess severe chickenpox could be classified as.

So it's the Dr's and possible dermatologist appointments for us for the forseeable future....

Nightmare.

Not sure what to do in the meantime and have just smothered her head with E45 to soften it all. I'll stop trying to remove it now I know what it is I think until I get better advice as it just causes it to bleed underneath.

**Velvet Chain** · 22-05-2009, 10:24pm

Oh no your poor DD, I hope that you can get a dr's appointment soon and that it can be treated, from memory (my step dad had it) I know how difficult it can be to be treated successfully.

VC

**irislili** · 22-05-2009, 10:25pm

Oh my word BM

poor thing, i hope she feels better soon

**Bettie May** · 22-05-2009, 10:26pm

Our only saving grace is that it is not on her face as that would really knock her confidence. She's incredibly run down too. She came home from dancing and just sobbed but didn't even know what she was crying about!

**Roo** · 22-05-2009, 10:26pm

Oh bless her, what a total nightmare

I'd get a drs appt asap so they can get her some decent cream, but for now I'd keep slapping the E45 on, or get some aqueous cream as there's even less 'nasty' stuff in that (some people react to E45

). But think the gp is the one who needs to advice, and it might be a few creams before you find one that really works for her though (we've worked our way through lots

). Bless her though, how is she feeling about it all/dealing with it?

**fifitrix** · 22-05-2009, 10:27pm

Oh gosh the poor thing

I suppose it's good that it's not itchy at least. I guess her system's all run down, so hopefully they'll recommend some tonics/supplements etc. She must be really peed off with it, bless her

**Bettie May** · 22-05-2009, 10:28pm

Originally Posted by Roo

Bless her though, how is she feeling about it all/dealing with it?

I haven't spoken to her about it yet and she thinks she is still just healing. I want to see the Dr before I tell her it's something she may have to deal with for a while. It doesn't help with all the gels and crap I have to put in her hair for dancing so I think they are going to have to excuse her from having it done "properly" for a while as I refuse to make matters worse.

**Adelelee** · 22-05-2009, 10:29pm

Oh your poor daughter

A friend of mine did not get CP till she was in her 30's and she she it was the most awful thing ever, she was off work for 8 weeks and in bed for about 5 of them

xx

**nickimacrae** · 22-05-2009, 10:40pm

A friend of mine has some good success with psoriasis by having strong sea salt baths. I think the research into it was only based on a small group but was promising - have a google for instructions on the solution, but got to be worth a go if this carries on?

If I remember rightly cade oil is good too..

**Bettie May** · 22-05-2009, 10:44pm

Oh lovely thanks Nicki. Will hold off on the salt baths for now but keep it in my memory. I'm thinking about how much it drys your skin up and her skin is very dry already but worth a try later on if all else fails.

I'd read Cade oil on Wiki but am not sure what it is nor where to get it!

**Bettie May** · 22-05-2009, 10:45pm

Originally Posted by Adelelee

Oh your poor daughter

A friend of mine did not get CP till she was in her 30's and she she it was the most awful thing ever, she was off work for 8 weeks and in bed for about 5 of them

xx

Bloody hell that was a bad bout. She had two and a half weeks off school and I think we are into week 4 of recovery now. I feel bad because I forced her to do the swimming class which might not have helped matters.

**Adelelee** · 22-05-2009, 10:47pm

Originally Posted by Bettie May

Bloody hell that was a bad bout. She had two and a half weeks off school and I think we are into week 4 of recovery now. I feel bad because I forced her to do the swimming class which might not have helped matters.

I honestly dont think I have ever seen anyone so ill from CP, even when she came back after 8 weeks off she still looked awful

**suemarie** · 22-05-2009, 10:54pm

I had CP quite late too, well I was 13, not sure if that is classed as late but my friend had it when she was 15 & she suffered quite badly. I didn't really suffer too much TBH, I remember having 2 weeks off school & the odd scar here & there & all I have to show for it now is a tiny scar next to my belly button.

I hope your poor DD feels better soon.

**Tekkencat** · 22-05-2009, 11:15pm

ooowch - poor DD i hope she gets better soon BM

I am another who had CP in her 30's and it was truly truly awful -

**cherry fizz** · 22-05-2009, 11:19pm

Yes, my mum had it at 18 and still recalls it as one of the worst fortnights of her life.

I know I bang on about it, but try Dream Cream from Lush (and maybe their Snake Oil bar for her scalp?) and see if that helps?

**redhed** · 22-05-2009, 11:25pm

Oh the poor poor thing. If DD2 doesn't manage to catch CP in the next few years I am definitely getting her vaccinated.

I think I'd treat the scalp problem like cradle cap - ie oil it overnight, wash out, brush gently between washes. So the loose stuff at the top comes off and gives the scalp a chance to "breathe" without damaging the stuff still stuck on at the bottom iyswim.

**Bettie May** · 22-05-2009, 11:58pm

Thanks Cherryfizz... will add them to my list of must-trys.

Redhed - yes, I had already tried some cradle cap shampoo (thought it was gel build up mixed with chickenpox yuk) which definitely did seen to work but then the stuff seems to come back just as fast in beween washes that you never really get anywhere.

**cherry fizz** · 23-05-2009, 06:43am

Originally Posted by redhed

I think I'd treat the scalp problem like cradle cap - ie oil it overnight, wash out, brush gently between washes. So the loose stuff at the top comes off and gives the scalp a chance to "breathe" without damaging the stuff still stuck on at the bottom iyswim.

Yes, I think the snake oil bar would really help with this. I used it with DS's cradle cap after a recommendation and then DH ended up using it for his very sore scalp and it worked for him too.

**Ruby** · 23-05-2009, 12:36pm

Psoriasis is auto-immune so it's not so much that the chickenpox caused it as triggered it. She'll have it for life but it may well disappear completely between outbreaks.

Nothing you can rub into it is necessarily going to make it better - it's very much trial and error. Polytar shampoo can be good for clearing the scalp up.

One of the most effective treatments is phototherapy (or going on a sunbed) but for all sorts of reasons you might want to be sure of the diagnosis before you go down that route.

**Orchid** · 23-05-2009, 12:49pm

I developed psoriasis after reacting to the rubella vaccine when I was a teen. At the time 75% of my body was covered, thankfully as I've got older it's subsided, but still 17 years on I still have patches. However it has recently flared up again and it getting harder to hide in this warmer weather.

Although they are not 100% sure what causes it there is genetic link, plus when your immune system is low your more likely to have an attack, which is probably what has happened to DD.

Get a GP appt asap. Lush Dream Cream is good along with Lush Recon for the scalp (they may have discontinued it again) but I still find the creams from my dermatologist the best. Over the years I have tried nearly every treatment under the sun including some very stupid ones (I was desparate) that could have potentially made me ill. Although psorasis is not linked to diet/allergies in any way I do take a vitamin supplement with zinc & B vitamins plus a omega oil supplement. Although it doesn't stop the psoriasis attacks it does seem to speed up healing time.

I hope your DD gets better soon. If she/or you want to speak to someone who has been there feel free to message me and I'll send you my email address :) .