My 9-year-old daughter has chicken pox. She wants to know what it is that makes them itch.?

Answer 1

And chickenpox sure do itch! Here's why: After the red spots appear on your body, they fill up with a clear liquid. These liquid-filled blisters are called vesicles (say: veh-sih-kulz). The vesicles release chemicals in your skin that excite the nerves that make you itch. The good news is that your skin is supposed to be itchy when you have chickenpox. Itching is a sign that your body is doing its job defending itself.These nerves in the top layers of your skin tell the brain when something itches. They are the same nerves that get excited when you get a reaction to a mosquito bite. When these nerves are irritated, they send a message to your brain: "Something's on the skin! Get rid of it!" Your brain sends a message back to your hand and arm that says, "Scratch that itch!"

These nerves are not the same as nerves that tell your brain you are in pain, but they are similar. Pain nerves send a stronger signal to your brain than itch nerves do. When you scratch an itch, you actually cause a little bit of pain. When you scratch, the pain temporarily takes away the itchy feeling. But once the pain is gone, the itch comes back.
You may feel like the itching will never stop, but the good news is that after 3 to 4 days, you'll start feeling better. In a week to 10 days, the vesicles will have formed scabs and you won't be as itchy anymore.

In the meantime, try your best not to scratch. Scratching may spread germs from your skin that could cause an infection. Cut your fingernails short so you won't hurt your skin if you do scratch. Also, wash your hands often during this time. Keep busy and you won't want to scratch as much. Now is a good time to rest, read some books, play a board game, or watch a movie.

Answer 2

Your skin is itchy when you have chickenpox because your body is doing its job of defending itself. After the red spots appear they fill up with a clear liquid. These liquid-filled blisters are called vesicles and release chemicals in your skin that excite the nerves that make you itch. After 3 to 4 days, you'll start feeling better. In a week to 10 days, the vesicles will have formed scabs and you won't be as itchy anymore.
Doctors can give you a cream to help stop the itching, or adding oatmeal to your bath is supposed to help. Get better soon! x

Answer 3

They itch because it's like an allergic reaction. part of it is they are healing afterwards too. It's just the virus that causes it.

Don't send her back to school until she is entirely scabbed over. You are most contagious a few days before you break out and until they are all scabbed over.

Chicken pox can make an immuno-compromised child extremely sick so do others a favour and keep them home till they are better.

Answer 4

Go to http:/www.chickenpox.com

This will tell all you need to know. I checked it out when my son got them.