Basic treatments for molluscum contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is a viral disease of the skin and mucous membranes that may resolve on its own. The virus infects children and sexually active people. When the virus penetrates the skin after the incubation period, which ranges from a week to six months, a shiny pearly – white papule with depression in the center and an average diameter of 3-5 mm. The number of such lesions usually does not exceed 20. There is no specific treatment for molluscum contagiosum. Recommended treatments have been identified, which you can learn about in our article.

Problem of treatment of molluscum contagiosum. When should treatment be given?

Molluscum contagiosum is diagnosed without difficulty on clinical examination.

When a molluscum contagiosum is detected, the question arises about the treatment of the disease. After all, lesions on the skin resolve on their own within 8 months, leaving no scars.

It is important to take care not to injure patients with painful treatments unless absolutely necessary, because the majority of patients are children. Read more on estet-portal.com for treatment methods for molluscum contagiosum. Although molluscum contagiosum can clear up on its own and is asymptomatic in healthy individuals, it is sometimes appropriate to treat molluscum contagiosum to prevent transmission of the virus during sexual contact and for cosmetic reasons.

Chemical treatment of molluscum contagiosum

It is important to choose the method of treatment, taking into account the age of the patient, the prevalence of the disease and the state of immunity. Such patients should refrain from visiting the pool, saunas, contact sports, and also use personal hygiene products.

Treatment of molluscum contagiosum consists in removal of skin foci by surgery or by traumatizing the epidermis, followed by desquamation of the molluscum and surrounding damaged skin.

It is important to test sexual partners to prevent re-infection.

The following drugs are used to treat molluscum contagiosum:

• cantharidin;
• trichloroacetic acid;
• povidone solution – iodine and salicylic acid patch;
• Vitamin A topical acid (tretinoin);
• silver nitrate paste;
• cream with podophyllotoxin;
• imiquimod cream.

Recommended treatments for molluscum contagiosum

Mechanical treatment of molluscum contagiosum - curettage

Curettage is a simple and painless procedure. Curettage is carried out in the presence of still fresh foci, and when their number is small. A sharp curette is used to scrape out the lesion. Children are given an anesthetic before the procedure. A special cream is applied 1 hour before the treatment, after which the skin surface is covered with an airtight bandage. An hour later, the cream is washed off, and after that, curettage begins.

Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is performed using liquid nitrogen, the skin is exposed to nitrogen-soaked cotton swabs or an aerosol. The procedure is less painful and does not require anesthesia. In this case, the focus and the narrow rim of the surrounding skin should turn white, only then stop applying liquid nitrogen. Such treatment of molluscum contagiosum should be repeated at intervals of a week if the foci persist. Cryotherapy is effective, painless, but inconvenient in that it requires several weeks for treatment sessions.

Electrodessication

This type of treatment leaves little or no scarring. Small lesions are removed without anesthesia. Preliminarily, the foci are cleaned with an agent that does not contain alcohol. The electrode is brought into contact with the focus. A minimal spark is generated to minimize unnecessary tissue destruction and avoid scarring. When destroyed, the focus changes color and consistency, after which it can be removed by wiping with a napkin.

Thus, if it is necessary to treat molluscum contagiosum, the treatment method is selected individually for each patient.