A contagious inflammatory skin disease attributed to viral infection of the outer skin, molluscum contagiosum manifests as white, pink or flesh-colored raised bumps or growths anywhere on the body (face, neck, arms, legs, abdomen and genital area, for example). They range in size from a pinhead to about 3 to 5 mm across. The molluscum bumps are symptomatic of a weak or defective immune system. Although treatment resistance is noticed in some cases of infection, more often than not, they vanish even without treatment in a matter of months. However, it is essential that you pay a visit to your physician when you observe any abnormal outgrowths and persistent irritation that simply does not disappear.
Freeze Treatment
Your physician may simply choose to freeze your molluscan bumps. Not only is it cost effective, but also does not require any anesthesia or sedation. When the tissue is frozen below -20 to -50 degrees C, the resulting disruption of the cell membranes is enough to get rid of any undesirable elements. As Dr. Stephen J. Wetmore, M.D., describes in his review in the "Canadian Family Physician" April 1999 issue, 10 seconds of cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen or 20 seconds with nitrous oxide should be sufficient to lethally freeze any molluscum bumps without the risk of scarring or collateral skin damage.
Curettage and Laser Therapies
This entails removal of fluid inside the bumps, but studies have shown a high risk of treatment failure, especially if you have quite a few of these outgrowths. However, researchers have changed the traditional curettage technique to remove lesions of molluscum contagiosum quite effectively.
The emphasis of any treatment is minimization of side effects, including any complications of infection or scarring. Doctors have used pulsed dye laser (PDL) over a two-year period to successfully treat patients with molluscum contagiosum. The response was often prompt, and without any morbidity. In a study of 19 children aged between two and 13, treatment with flashlamp pumped pulsed dye laser, experts found total remission in more than 80 percent.
Unlike in cryotherapy and curettage, which may involve the risk of scarring, laser therapy has been shown to be efficient and safe. But it all depends on the degree of pain and inconvenience you are willing to put up with in these hospital-based curative options.
Home-Based Cures
There are quite a few therapeutic creams available, which include salicylic acid, podophyllin, tretinoin and cantharidin. Imiquimod helps in boosting the skin’s immune response. But it is essential to remember the risks and pitfalls that creams might bring along when applied directly on the bumps. It may be desirable, therefore, to visit your physician to check them out on an individual basis. Similarly, oral prescription medications, such as cimetidine, used for treatment of molluscum in small children are not safe, either. Also, given the contraindications for pregnant and breastfeeding women, there is a need to consult with your physician for the best possible treatment options. In any case, in view of the risk of re-infection, it is essential to take all possible precautions even after you have been cured of the molluscum.
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