Treatment of Molluscum Contagiosum
Pediatricians and general doctors often tell patients not to worry about molluscum contagiosum, because it will resolve on its own. While this is most certainly true, it will often take months to years to resolve, and sometimes the lesions will spread to a disconcerting degree. There is certainly no health concern in leaving these untreated, but oftentimes patients or their parents may want treatment.
The dermatologists at Village Dermatology Houston (Memorial and Katy) provide detailed treatment options for our patients to treat and eliminate molluscum contagiosum:
Freezing: Liquid nitrogen, also known as cryotherapy, is a very cold spray that is used in the office. The liquid nitrogen causes the skin to turn red and form a small blister that then lifts the molluscum lesions away.
Beetle juice: Cantharidin is a medication that is extracted from the juice of a blister beetle. The medicine is topically applied to the molluscum lesions in the office and washed off at home after 4-6 hours. Small blisters form, and when the blisters resolve, the molluscum lesion is destroyed with it.
Curettage: The molluscum lesions can be scraped off in the office using a small melon-scoop type instrument.
Medications: Occasionally, topical medications may be prescribed to help treat the lesions.
Side effects of treatment can include discomfort, redness, skin irritation, and scarring. Multiple sessions of treatment may be required before seeing improvement, and most often the lesions heal quite well.
If you are concerned about molluscum contagiosum or other skin changes, please schedule an appointment with healthcare provider for evaluation and treatment.
