Molluscum Contagiosum

Molluscum Contagiosum is a virus infection which appears as small bumps (1 to 4 mm) on the skin, often with small, dimple-like depressions in their centers. These growth may occur on any part of the body, and there may be a single growth or as many as 50 or more.

As the name suggests, these growths are contagious and are spread from place to place on the body and to other people by physical contact. Sometimes they are spread by sexual contact, and if you feel this is a possibility, sexual partners should be examined for presence of lesions.

Treatment consists of physically removing these superficial growths from the skin. This may be done by curettement (scraping them off with a special surgical instrument), application of various medicines to the lesions, or freezing with liquid nitrogen. Sometimes these viral growths can also become infected with bacteria and may require antibiotic therapy. Since Molluscum Contagiosum lesions sometimes go away by themselves, treatment by cautery or surgery requiring stitches is avoided because of the scarring that results from these methods.

Sometimes new lesions keep appearing after treatment. This happens because some growths are in an early stage at the time of the treatment and these “incubating” lesions are too small to be seen. At the present time, there is no oral medicine which makes these growths go away. Repeat treatments are usually necessary until new lesions stop appearing; this may occur after the first treatment or only after several visits to the office.
 

Treatment with Canthardin

The liquid medicine (cantharidin) applied to Molluscum Contagiosum lesions usually causes a small blister-reaction after a few hours. While the blister is forming there may be some pain, but discomfort should subside over the next 1-2 days.

Severe pain is not common but if it occurs it may be treated with Tylenol™, aspirin or ibuprofen. It may also help to bathe the areas in water of a comfortable temperature. It is important to keep the treated skin clean.

Large blisters may occasionally form and these can be punctured and drained using a sterilized needle. After a week to ten days, most treated lesions will have formed a dry crust (scab) and many may have come off the skin. Red marks at treatment sites eventually disappear. Any new or remaining lesions will be evaluated upon your return visit and will be re-treated as needed.

For more information visit our Patient Education Center.