Molluscum contagiosum is a skin infection that causes round, flesh-coloured bumps that may resemble warts. Some people choose not to treat these growths because molluscum contagiosum usually goes away on its own after some time.
If you leave this skin condition untreated, it takes 6-12 months for the bumps to clear up. In that period, you may scratch or pick at the bumps which cause the infection to spread, or you may transmit the virus to other people, especially children.
While the bumps are painless, you wouldn’t want yourself to be the carrier of the virus. Here, we give you the best molluscum contagiosum treatments according to experts. So, when you get infected, you already know the most effective ways to deal with it.
At-Home Treatments
A number of at-home treatments for molluscum contagiosum do not necessarily cure the infection, but they relieve the itching and tingling that occur when one is infected. To make sure that these treatments won’t do more harm than good, consult an expert before you begin.
Tea Tree Oil
With just the application of tea tree oil, you can already experience a reduction of symptoms. But if you combine tea tree oil with iodine to apply in the infected area, you will be surprised how it significantly reduces Mollusca lesions. As what the experts suggest, the combination offers great results.
To avoid allergic reactions, test an uninfected area with the oil. If there is no reaction within 24 hours, the treatment should be safe to use.
Australian Lemon Myrtle
Another at-home treatment that has been studied and proven is Australian lemon myrtle. As studies show, applying a 10% solution of Australian lemon myrtle once a day will minimise symptoms by 90% or more. If you apply it regularly, lesions will be reduced.
Coconut Oil
This soothing skin oil has high contents of fatty acids, which help prevent the skin from drying out. One thing you might not know about these fatty acids is that they have anti-inflammatory properties. So, when you apply coconut oil to irritated skin, the skin will slowly retain moisture, making it less itchy.
Topical Therapy
During topical therapy, doctors apply podophyllotoxin cream or any creams that contain acids or chemicals to the bumps. This is to induce peeling of the top layers of the skin. Treat each lesion individually so that the therapeutic effect is localised.
Podophyllotoxin cream (0.5%) is as reliable as a home therapy for men. However, it isn’t recommended for pregnant women because of presumed toxicity to the baby inside the womb.
Other options for topical therapy are iodine and salicylic acid, potassium hydroxide, tretinoin, cantharidin (a blistering agent usually applied in an office setting), and imiquimod (T cell modifier). But imiquimod has not been proven effective for the treatment of molluscum contagiosum in children, so it is not recommended for children due to possible adverse events. Before applying any of these treatments, make sure that they are prescribed by a health care professional.
Cryotherapy
Another effective molluscum contagiosum treatment is called cryotherapy. The process involves the localised application of freezing temperatures to accomplish the destruction of skin lesions. The cellular destruction is achieved through the delivery of the cryogen by means of dipstick, probe, or spray techniques.
This treatment is widely used in primary care because it’s safe, cost-effective, easy to use, offers great results, and does not need any anaesthesia. That’s why cryotherapy is as effective as alternative therapies for most cases of molluscum contagiosum.
Laser Therapy
Treating patients with multiple lesions can be complicated, especially for children. If there might be complications during any treatment, it can cause further infection, scarring, and posttreatment activities. But you can avoid any of that with laser therapy.
The laser has been proven safe and effective for the treatment of molluscum contagiosum. During the treatment, doctors use lasers to destroy the bumps. These pulsed dye lasers effectively treat plenty of bumps in less than two minutes.
Oral Therapy
It is possible to gradually remove lesions through oral therapy. This therapy is often desirable for paediatric patients because it is less painful and may be performed by parents at home in a less threatening environment.
For younger people who are either afraid of cryotherapy and laser therapy or the possibility of scarring, oral cimetidine has been used as an alternative treatment. The cimetidine is safe, painless, and well–tolerated. Take note, facial Mollusca does not respond to this medication, as well as lesions elsewhere on the body.
Therapy for Immunocompromised Persons
Most molluscum contagiosum treatments are effective in immunocompetent patients. However, traditional treatments are inefficient to patients with HIV/AIDS or other immunosuppressing conditions. On top of that, they become largely ineffective in achieving long-term control in HIV patients.
According to studies, low CD4 cell counts have been linked to widespread facial Mollusca, which is why they have become a marker for severe HIV disease. As of today, therapies intended to boost the immune system have been proven the most effective treatments for molluscum contagiosum in immunocompromised people.
In some severe cases, intralesional interferon is used to treat facial lesions in patients. But its extreme and unpleasant side effects (influenza-like symptoms, site tenderness, depression, and lethargy) make interferon a less-than-desirable treatment. Moreover, interferon therapy has been proven most effective in otherwise healthy persons.
What’s Next?
Before using at-home treatments, talk to dermatologists first to make sure that no therapy can cause you harm. While it’s good to consult a doctor before using home remedies, it is best to ask for their help and get your skin infection treated.
