Molluscum

Understanding Molluscum Contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is a common viral infection of the skin that causes small, firm, painless bumps. These bumps can appear anywhere on the body but are most frequently found on the face, trunk, and limbs of children. In adults, molluscum contagiosum may appear in the genital area. The condition is caused by a poxvirus and spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact or by touching contaminated objects.

Molluscum contagiosum typically resolves on its own within 6 to 12 months, but treatment can help prevent the spread of the virus and speed up recovery. Treatments include topical therapies, cryotherapy (freezing the bumps), and curettage (removing the bumps with a small instrument).
 

Expert Care for Molluscum at Riva Dermatology

At Riva Dermatology, we offer effective treatments for molluscum contagiosum to help you and your family achieve clear, healthy skin. Our experienced dermatologists provide personalized care tailored to your specific needs.

Molluscum contagiosum can be prevented by minimizing the risk of transmission. Since the virus is primarily spread through direct skin-to-skin contact, practicing good hygiene is essential. Here are some key preventive strategies:

• Hand Hygiene: Regular handwashing with soap and water can help reduce the risk of spreading and contracting the virus.
• Avoiding Direct Contact: Minimize skin-to-skin contact, especially with individuals who have active molluscum lesions. This is particularly important in communal settings such as schools and sports facilities.
• Personal Items: Refrain from sharing personal items like towels, clothing, and toys, which could potentially carry the virus from one person to another.
• Avoid Scratching: Discourage excessive scratching of existing lesions, as this can rupture the lesions and facilitate the virus's spread.
• Environmental Cleanliness: Maintain cleanliness in shared spaces, including sports equipment, gym facilities, and communal bathing areas.

For individuals with molluscum lesions, covering the growths with clothing or bandages can help prevent direct contact and reduce the risk of transmission. 

The treatment plan for molluscum depends on the age of the patient and the size and location of the growths.

• Cantharone, a blistering agent made from beetles, is applied with a wooden applicator to the skin growth. The medicine should be washed off in 4 to 6 hours. A small blister usually forms in a few hours to one day. When the scab falls off, the growth is gone. The application of this treatment is not painful; it is used on the face and in skin creases. Scarring does not occur from Cantharone treatment. Although blisters are uncomfortable, they are very superficial and resolve within a few days.
• Freezing with liquid nitrogen is another form of treatment. Liquid nitrogen is applied with a cotton-tipped applicator, feels hot for a moment, and then may form a blister or irritation at the site.
• Another way to remove molluscum is by scraping the bump or removing the center, a treatment that is performed after numbing the area with a special cream.

All forms of treatment may cause some discomfort, which is usually eased by acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). New molluscum may form while existing ones are being treated. Any lesions large enough to be seen will be treated. Multiple treatments are usually required. Don’t be concerned if the molluscum recurs or new lesions present, just be sure to schedule another appointment with our skincare specialists for further treatment.