Chickenpox spots are itchy. Like, “punch a pillow” itchy. If a spot isn’t itchy, it might be something else (like impetigo or a bug bite).
Also, they blister. Other rashes, like measles, are flat or bumpy but not filled with fluid. Chickenpox is the only rash that gives you little liquid treasures.
Chicken Pox Pictures Early Stages: A Doctor’s Guide with Images
And they spread in waves. New spots appear for 3-5 days. Meanwhile, old ones scab over. Your body is a spot factory running a 24/7 shift.
The Gross-Yet-Awesome Facts
Here’s a quirky detail: if you look closely at a fresh blister, you’ll see a tiny dimple in the center. It’s called an umbilicated spot. Yes, like a belly button. Your spots have belly buttons.
Scabs fall off naturally in 1-2 weeks. But picking them? That leaves a scar. A permanent little crater. So resist the urge to create a moon surface on your skin.
And get this: the spots are contagious from the red-dot stage until all spots are scabbed. So you’re a walking, itching biohazard for about a week. Party pooper.
