Prescription Topical Treatment for Molluscum Contagiosum
Molluscum contagiosum is a viral skin infection that commonly affects children but can affect adults as well. While molluscum contagiosum can clear up without treatment, doctors typically recommend treatment because of its highly contagious nature.
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Identification
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Molluscum contagiosum forms firm, flesh-colored papules (firm bumps) that range in size from 2 to 5 millimeters. Most papules have a small dent or dot on top. Redness and inflammation can accompany the rash. In children they typically form on the face, neck, armpits, hands and arms. In adults, the lesions often appear on the stomach, inner thighs, buttocks and genitals as a sexually transmitted disease but can appear in similar places as children if they contract it another way.
Goal
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Prescription treatments aim to clear up the papules and prevent them from spreading to other parts of the body and other people.
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Primary or Complementary
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Topical treatments may be used on their own or in conjunction with procedures to remove the growths including freezing, laser therapy or cutting or scraping them off.
Medications
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Topical treatments for molluscum contagiosum are similar to treatments for warts. They include immune-stimulants such as Aldara, topical retinoids (derivatives of vitamin A), anti-viral treatments such as cidofovir, trichloroacetic acid, cantharidin and podophyllotoxin.
Associated Conditions
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People with molluscum contagiosum sometimes develop dermatitis or eczema around the papules. Your doctor might prescribe topical steroid treatments to ease itching and inflammation. Do not apply these treatments to the growths themselves.
Outcome
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Lesions typically clear up in two to four months in those with healthy immune systems, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Otherwise, it can take years for the papules to clear.
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