What is molluscum contagiosum:
Molluscum contagiosum is a common skin growth caused by a pox virus infecting the top layers of the skin. They are similar to warts, but are caused by a different virus. The name molluscum contagiosum implies that this infection is very contagious, spreads easily from one person to other.
Why do you get molluscum?
People get molluscum by sharing clothes, towels, skin to skin contact from an infected person. It spreads by sharing swimming pools, jaccuzi, gym mats which are infected.
The virus enters through small breaks in the skin or hair follicles and can lead to the development of the molluscum lesions in a person whose skin resistance(immunity) is weak towards this virus.
In adults it can also be transmitted sexually with molluscum seen on genitals
When do you get molluscum?
It is usually seen in children, but can be seen in any age, including adults whose skin resistance is weak. It is seen in promiscuous adults through sexual contacts over the genitals. It appears after 2-3 months of contact with the infected person.
How does molluscum look like?
Molluscums are usually small flesh coloured or pink dome shaped growths with a dimple in the center. The dimple may be filled with a thick, white substance that is cheesy or waxy.
They are painless, but some bumps itch.
Appear on other areas of the body after a person scratches or picks the bumps. Scratching or picking can spread the virus.
Most people get 10-20 bumps on the skin. People who have AIDS can have 100 or more bumps which are larger in size.
Where do you see it?
These bumps are seen on face, neck, arms, abdomen in children & adults. It is seen on genitals, thighs in adults as a sexually transmitted disease.
General information about molloscum:
It is contagious, doesn’t harm the body & affect the internal organs, as it is a superficial skin infection affecting the dead skin.
If it is seen in adults especially in large numbers it is a sign of immunosuppresion especially AIDS has to be suspected. If it is seen over the genitals, then it is a sign of sexually transmitted disease, where in infected sexual partners has to be treated.
What are the aggravating factors?
Scratching, injury, immunosupression due to oral or topical steroids & other immunosuppresion medications.
How do you confirm it?
Skin specialist can easily confirm it with the shape, dent & pearly look of the bump, which when squeezed a cheesy or pearly material comes out
It can be confirmed by scraping some cells from the lesion and look at these under the microscope-Tzanck smear.
Does molluscum need to be treated?
Molluscum will eventually go away on their own, without leaving a scar by 6months to 3 years.
It has to be treated to avoid spreading from one part of the body to other, from one person to another & to prevent it going out of control in people with weakened immune system. Rarely can it get infected with bacteria causing infection & pain.
How is molluscum treated?
Molluscums are treated in the same ways that warts are treated.
They can be frozen with liquid nitrogen-Cryotherapy, destroyed with various acids or by electrocautery or lasers.
It can be scraped off with a sharp instrument (curetteage)
It can be treated daily with home application of a topical retinoid cream or KOH solution, with a topical immune modifier, or with a topical anti viral medication.
If there are many growths, multiple treatment sessions may be needed every 3-6 weeks until the growths are gone.
What if the molluscum comes back after treatment?
It is always possible for a person’s skin to get infected again with the molluscum virus. The condition may be easier to control if treatment is started when there are only a few growths.
Recurrences can be prevented if we remove the molluscum earlier especially when they are few in numbers. After treatment, a person may get new bumps for as long as 6 months. Most people have complete clearing in 2 to 4 months.
Tips to prevent spreading:
Trying not to scratch or pick at the bumps.
Not participating in sports such as wrestling, gymnastics, and swimming.
Not using locker rooms.
Not sharing towels, washcloths, clothing, and other personal items.
Not shaving skin that has bumps.
Not having sex.