Molluscum is a viral skin infection that commonly affects children and infants but is also seen in adults. Even though the infection usually resolves within a few months, there are treatment options, but the results are variable. A few herbal remedies have been studied that may be a good alternative. Always consult your doctor before beginning any new treatment regimen.
Molluscum
Molluscum contagiosum is a viral skin infection caused by a member of the family of poxviruses. The infection is characterized by small dome-shaped lesions on the skin, most often in the trunk and extremities. It is spread by skin-to-skin contact and is most common in children but can be contracted by adults or patients who are immunocompromised. Treatment is seldom necessary because normally the bumps are not painful and go away on their own in a few weeks to a few months. Treatment options are available in severe cases, however, or for cosmetic reasons.
Complications
There are several reasons to treat molluscum lesions rather than waiting for them to resolve on their own. On occasion the lesions may bleed or become painful and itchy. When this occurs, secondary infections can develop that may further impair the healing of the lesions. In addition, if an abundance of lesions crop up in a very visible place such as the face or arms, treatment may be desirable. On the whole, there are no convincing treatments for molluscum, according to the April 2006 issue of "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews."
Herbal Remedies
Several herbal remedies can be alternatives to medical or surgical treatment and show some promise. The essential oil of the Australian plant lemon myrtle has shown some efficacy in healing molluscum lesions and appears to have very low toxicity, according to "Food and Chemical Toxicology." Some claim that witch hazel, echinacea or tea tree oil may have some efficacy in treating molluscum lesions and preventing their spread, but this has not been conclusively proven.
Other Treatments
Another common treatment for molluscum is cryotherapy, the use of a pressurized spray of liquid nitrogen onto the lesions to kill the virus. Other topical chemicals may be applied to the lesions to kill the virus and prevent their spread such as phenol, potassium hydroxide and trichloroacetic acid, as reported in "Dermatology Online Journal." However, none of these methods appear to be able to eridacate all of the virus. These facts suggest that herbal treatment of molluscum could be a could starting point before other therapies.
References
- "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews"; Interventions for Cutaneous Molluscum Contagiosum; JC van der Wouden et al.; April 2006
- "Food and Chemical Toxicology"; Toxicity of Australian Essential Oil Backhousia citriodora (Lemon Myrtle). Part 2. Absorption and Histopathology Following Application to Human Skin; A.J Hayes and B. Markovic; October 2003
- "Dermatology Online Journal"; Treatment of Molluscum Contagiosum; N. Scheinfeld; July 2007
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