Chicken pox is a common pathology. Most often it occurs in children. Adults also get sick sometimes. For adults, the ailment is more dangerous. The condition of a person should be controlled by a doctor. One of the popular questions that chickenpox patients ask is: “When can I wash myself with this disease?”
Opinions of experts
Pathology is accompanied by the appearance of a rash, which causes a feeling of itching and causes severe discomfort. In Soviet times, doctors argued that patients of any age should abandon water procedures until they recover completely. Modern doctors have a different opinion. They believe that bathing will not harm the patient, but, on the contrary, can benefit him, as he will cleanse the skin of germs. There is no danger of new rashes after a shower or bath. Modern doctors say that with this pathology, water procedures are not prohibited. However, the patient must be careful and adhere to several recommendations. So, when can you wash yourself with chickenpox and what rules should be observed? This is described in the following sections.
Precautions for young patients
Today, some parents know that for children with chickenpox, water procedures are not contraindicated. However, it must be remembered that washing cannot be carried out in the usual way. If the temperature is high, bathing should be abandoned. It’s better to wait until the heat subsides. The question of whether a specific child can wash during chickenpox or not should be agreed with the attending doctor after the examination. The doctor will evaluate the condition of the small patient and give parents recommendations. It is better to talk with a specialist on this topic in the early days of infection.
General advice for patients
If an ailment occurs, patients of any age category need to follow a number of rules. These recommendations contribute to an easier course of pathology and a quick recovery. Patients should adhere to such tips:
- During the acute stage of the disease, bed rest should be observed.
- More fluids should be consumed. Sweet drinks, coffee, and alcohol-containing products should be excluded. Herbal tea and clear water will benefit.
- Bubbles with liquid that form on the surface of the skin are treated with a two percent solution of iodine or brilliant green. These substances contribute to the rapid drying of the rash.
- Only bedding and clothes made from cotton fabrics are chosen.
- It is important to eat the right diet. The diet should consist of cereals, fruits and fresh vegetables, sour-milk foods. Smoked meats and fatty foods should be discarded.
- Do not forget about daily hygiene measures.
When can you wash yourself with chickenpox and how to do it? The answer to this question depends on the stage of the pathology and the condition of the patient.
Features of water procedures at different stages of the disease
So, today experts say that bathing does not adversely affect the body and does not contribute to the further spread of rashes. In addition, water washes away dirt and sweat from the surface of the skin cleanses the pores, eliminates the sensation of itching. With chickenpox, how many days can I wash? The answer to this question is determined by the following conditions:
- If the pathology proceeds without an increase in temperature and a strong sense of weakness, you can take a bath or shower with soap in the first days of infection.
- In the presence of heat, water procedures are excluded. This rule especially applies to young patients. Usually, with chickenpox, the fever lasts for five days. These days, you should wipe the skin with sanitary napkins or a wet towel.
- When the temperature drops, the baby can take a bath. However, the water should not be hot, so as not to provoke a patient itchy. In the absence of heat, adult patients are allowed to wash themselves in the shower.
- On the tenth day after the onset of the first symptoms of infection, children and adults can bathe in the bath.
What should not be done during water procedures?
There are certain prohibitions for patients, for example:
- In order not to damage the bubbles and not provoke inflammation, you can not use a sponge in the bathing process.
- Detergents should be discarded.
- It is undesirable to be in the water for more than five minutes.
- Do not rub your skin with a towel after hygiene procedures.
- Only bathing solutions with a disinfecting effect should be used.
After a bath or shower, you need to slightly dampen the body with a diaper and grease all the rashes with a disinfectant. If you do not dry the bubbles, scars form in their place.
Conditions requiring cancellation of water procedures
True, far from always there are situations when you can wash with chickenpox. And all because the features of the course of the disease depend on its form and condition of the human body. Usually, the acute period of infection lasts about 5 days. The following symptoms are typical for him:
- Heat.
- Strong sense of weakness, aching muscles and joints.
- The appearance of rashes on the surface of the skin, which spread throughout the body and cause itching.
In small patients, the ailment usually proceeds in a milder form, and the acute stage completes faster. Can children wash themselves with chickenpox? Usually on the fourth day of the disease, water procedures are allowed. However, adults should refrain from bathing for a longer period. If on the fifth day the condition improves slightly, a person can take a shower. If there are abundant rashes, wait about a week. After all, bathing can aggravate the condition of the patient. During the acute period, it is allowed to wipe the surface of the body with a moistened towel. On the fifth day, you can slightly rinse your skin with cool water.
From the tenth day of illness, the time spent in the shower or bath can be slightly increased.
How to bathe a baby?
If there is chickenpox, when can a little patient wash himself and is it worth it? Doctors recommend conducting small water procedures as soon as the temperature has returned to normal and health has improved slightly. This will help alleviate the condition of the baby. However, conventional detergents are not suitable in this case. You should bathe your child in cool water with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or furatsilina. These substances have a disinfecting effect and heal rashes. Hygienic procedures should be carried out quite often (at least five times a day).
What herbs should be used?
You should also bathe the baby in the bath with plant extracts. Modern doctors argue that this procedure prevents infection, helps reduce itching and healing of vesicles. What day can I wash after chickenpox with decoctions of herbs? The answer to this question is the same as for all other hygiene measures. Bathing with plant extracts is allowed after the heat subsides. It should be remembered that the water temperature should vary from 33 to 37 degrees. In the bath is added a decoction of calendula, celandine, chamomile, lavender, eucalyptus or oak bark. If the child has bubbles on the mucous membranes of the mouth, it is necessary to rinse with warm infusion of sage.
What remedies are forbidden for patients to use?
Is it possible to wash an adult with chickenpox using cosmetic products? The answer to this question is no. Means for shower and bath worsen the condition of the skin.
Patients are prohibited from using:
- Scrubs.
- Shampoos and hair balms.
- Shower gels and bath foams.
Features of hygiene procedures in adults
As a rule, for babies the infection is not particularly dangerous and passes in a mild form. In adult patients, it provokes a profuse rash, a strong feeling of weakness and a very high temperature.
Therefore, the answer to the question of how much you can wash after chickenpox for adults and children will be different. While the person’s condition has not returned to normal, he should confine himself to rinsing only those parts of the body that need to be constantly kept clean. It is also allowed to treat areas of skin with blisters using disinfecting wipes. After lowering the temperature, you should wash your hair. Excretions of the sebaceous glands contribute to clogging of pores and cause complications. On the fifth day of infection in the absence of heat, you need to carry out this procedure. However, you should not wash your hair for long - about 10 minutes.
Do not use hot water, shampoo or soap. It is recommended to use a solution of soda and decoctions of medicinal plants. When washing, you need to be careful not to hurt the rashes on the skin. After bathing, the head is slightly dried with a towel and hairdryer. Pimples on its surface are greased with a solution of brilliant green.
Adults with chickenpox can wash in the bath or is it worth postponing a similar procedure? This event really needs to be abandoned until complete recovery. It is allowed only on the tenth day after the onset of infection. If by this time the patient's condition is completely normal, the bath can be visited.