Last Updated on July 29, 2021 by Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT
How do you get Molluscum Contagiosum/How can you get Molluscum Contagiosum? Molluscum Contagiosum Causes:
Molluscum contagiosum is caused by a virus that is a member of the poxvirus family.
The virus may be sexually transmitted by skin-to-skin contact (does not have to be mucous membranes) and/or lesions. Transmission through sexual contact is the most common form of transmission for adults.
Molluscum contagiosum may be transmitted from inanimate objects such as towels and clothing that come in contact with the lesions and has been associated with swimming pools and sharing baths with a person who has it.
Molluscum contagiosum also may be transmitted by autoinoculation, such as touching a lesion and touching another part of the body.
How to tell if you have Molluscum Contagiosum? Molluscum Symptoms:
Molluscum infection causes small white, pink, or flesh-colored bumps or growths with a dimple or pit in the center. The skin lesion commonly has a central core or plug of white, cheesy, or waxy material.
The bumps are usually smooth and firm and can appear anywhere on the body. In adults, the lesions are commonly seen on the genitals, abdomen, and inner thigh.
They may become sore, red, and swollen but are usually painless.
STI Masterclass: Breaking Through the Fear, Shame, and Stigma of an STI Diagnosis
If you’re fed up with feeling unworthy, less-than, damaged, or limited by your STI, then join the next cohort in the 60-Day Masterclass, and leave feeling empowered, knowledgable, and confident again!
Click Here to Learn More
How to know if you have Molluscum Contagiosum? Molluscum Tests:
Diagnosis is based on the appearance of the lesion and can be confirmed by a skin biopsy. The health care provider might examine the lesion to rule out other disorders and to determine other underlying disorders.
Relief spells (Rolaids?!) Molluscum Contagiosum Treatment:
A health care provider can remove the small growths with chemicals, with an electrical current, or by freezing them. Or you can use a prescription medicine that can be applied at home.
Some people choose not to have the growths treated because molluscum can go away on its own. But left untreated, it takes an average of up to two years for all of the growths to go away. And during that time, there is a risk of spreading the virus to other parts of your body or to other people.
What’s going to happen to me?!!?! Molluscum Contagiosum Expectations:
The bumps normally disappear within 6 months to 2 years without treatment and without leaving scars, however, during that time, there is a risk of spreading the virus to other parts of your body or to other people.
Things to be aware of… Molluscum Complications:
In people with weakened immune systems, molluscum growths may grow very large, spread more easily to other parts of the body and may be harder to cure.
Secondary bacterial skin infections should also be monitored and excessive scratching can lead to scarring.
- Detailed Molluscum Symptoms
- Pictures of Molluscum
- Molluscum – Resources, Info & Personal Perspectives
- STI Interviews
- STD Hotlines
- Molluscum Blog
- How to Not Give an Eff about Having an STI
References
- Symptoms
- Kawada, Tomoyuki. “Molluscum contagiosum and associations with atopic eczema in children: a retrospective longitudinal study in primary care.” (2019).
- Loh, Tiffany Y., et al. “Molluscum Contagiosum of the Nipple-Areola Complex.” Nipple-Areolar Complex Reconstruction. Springer, Cham, 2018. 145-151.
- Fonocho, Ernest, Richard Murray, and Nail Aydin. “Disseminated coccidioidomycosis with molluscum-like lesions, diffuse lymphadenopathy, and splenomegaly in an immunocompetent patient.” International medical case reports journal 10 (2017): 251.
- Chikazawa, Sakiko, et al. “Widespread Molluscum Contagiosum with Atopic Dermatitis-like Skin Manifestations.” Acta dermato-venereologica 97.2 (2017): 291-292.
- DiBiagio, Jennifer R., Tia Pyle, and Justin J. Green. “Reviewing the use of imiquimod for molluscum contagiosum.” Dermatology online journal 24.6 (2018).
- Testing
- Kaufman, William S., Christine S. Ahn, and William W. Huang. “Molluscum contagiosum in immunocompromised patients: AIDS presenting as molluscum contagiosum in a patient with psoriasis on biologic therapy.” Cutis 101.2 (2018): 136-140.
- Trčko, Katarina, et al. “Clinical, histopathological, and virological evaluation of 203 patients with a clinical diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum.” Open forum infectious diseases. Vol. 5. No. 11. US: Oxford University Press, 2018.
- Sorte, Hanne S., et al. “A potential founder variant in CARMIL2/RLTPR in three Norwegian families with warts, molluscum contagiosum, and T‐cell dysfunction.” Molecular genetics & genomic medicine 4.6 (2016): 604-616.
- Mendez-Rios, Jorge D., et al. “Molluscum contagiosum virus transcriptome in abortively infected cultured cells and a human skin lesion.” Journal of virology 90.9 (2016): 4469-4480.
- Uzuncakmak, Tugba K., et al. “Isolated giant molluscum contagiosum mimicking epidermoid cyst.” Dermatology practical & conceptual 6.3 (2016): 71.
- Treatment
- Guzman, Anthony K., et al. “Safety and efficacy of topical cantharidin for the treatment of pediatric molluscum contagiosum: a prospective, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled pilot trial.” International journal of dermatology 57.8 (2018): 1001-1006.
- Vakharia, Paras P., et al. “Efficacy and safety of topical cantharidin treatment for molluscum contagiosum and warts: a systematic review.” American journal of clinical dermatology 19.6 (2018): 791-803.
- Harel, Avikam, et al. “To Treat Molluscum Contagiosum or Not—Curettage: An Effective, Well‐Accepted Treatment Modality.” Pediatric dermatology 33.6 (2016): 640-645.
- Giner-Soriano, Maria, et al. “Randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial on efficacy and safety of topical 10% Potassium hydroxide for molluscum contagiosum treatment in children.” Journal of Dermatological Treatment (2019): 1-7.
- Haque, Malika, and Daniel L. Coury. “Treatment of molluscum contagiosum with an East Indian sandalwood oil product.” Journal of Dermatological Treatment 29.5 (2018): 531-533.
- Prevention
- Hodges, Ashley L., and Aimee C. Holland. “Prevention and Treatment of Injuries and Infections Related to Pubic Hair Removal.” Nursing for women’s health 21.4 (2017): 313-317.
- Allen, H. B., R. M. Allawh, and S. Ballal. “Virally-Induced, Intracellular Biofilms; Novel Findings in Molluscum Contagiosum.” Clin Microbiol 6.302 (2017): 2.
- Scott, Christopher M., Ronald R. Lubritz, and Gloria F. Graham. “Prevention and management of complications.” Dermatological Cryosurgery and Cryotherapy. Springer, London, 2016. 235-240.
- Damevska, Katerina, and Arben Emurlai. “molluscum Contagiosum in a Patient with Atopic Dermatitis.” New England Journal of Medicine 377.21 (2017): e30.
- Hall, Anthony. “Molluscum Contagiosum.” Atlas of Male Genital Dermatology. Springer, Cham, 2019. 91-92.
- Transmission
- Neri, Iria, et al. “Congenital molluscum contagiosum.” Paediatrics & child health 22.5 (2017): 241.
- Zhuang, Kaiwen, et al. “Atypical infantile genital Molluscum contagiosum.” Anais brasileiros de dermatologia 90.3 (2015): 403-405.
- Nunns, David, and Rosalind Simpson. “Molluscum Contagiosum.” Vulvar Disease. Springer, Cham, 2019. 105-106.
- Bhengra, Masuma P., et al. “HAART–The best treatment modality for widespread and disfigured giant molluscum contagiosum.” Journal of Pakistan Association of Dermatology 25.4 (2016): 314-318.
- Ruby, Kristen N., Ann E. Perry, and Konstantinos Linos. “Expanding the Morphologic Heterogeneity of Stromal Changes in Molluscum Contagiosum Infection.” The American Journal of Dermatopathology 40.12 (2018): 941-943.
