Chickenpox blisters are part of the rash that appears on the skin of a person who has been infected with the disease. The number of blisters varies from person to person. Also, the severity and number of both the blisters and the disease can depend on sex and age. Adults often experience a more severe form of chickenpox than children. Also, adult males often experience more severe symptoms than adult women. It is important to visit a doctor when experiencing chickenpox to get advice and any medications that may be indicated to help reduce the severity of the disease.
The blisters (also known as vesicles) themselves are, in fact, the "pox" associated with chickenpox. It usually takes a few days for an individual blister to burst, develop a crust, and begin to heal. They are often red in color and raised from the skin. They fill with a liquid that, much like other kinds of blisters in the skin, is either clear or a bit cloudy. This liquid seeps out of the blister when it bursts. At this point, when the fluid has leaked out of the vesicles, the pox will develop a scab and the skin will begin to clear up.
New vesicles may develop on the skin for about five to seven days while the infected person is recovering. In most cases, the blisters will heal without scarring the skin. If the blisters are scratched, however, or if they are disturbed after they have begun to crust over, then scarring may occur. This is much in the same way that a mild cut or abrasion to the skin will often heal without scarring, but not if the wound is reopened a number of times or if the scab is removed a number of times.
One of the hallmarks of chickenpox is itching on the skin and around the blisters. People who are experiencing this discomfort are advised not to scratch the scabs because, in addition to resulting in scarring, this can also cause additional infections in the skin. Doctors often recommend topical products that can be used to both heal the chickenpox blisters and help with the itching sensation. A doctor may also prescribe an oral antihistamine in order to help reduce the discomfort of itching. It is important not to take any such oral medicine without checking first with one's doctor or pediatrician.
