Molluscum Warts: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Molluscum warts are caused by an infectious virus that usually affects children, but adults can be affected too. Adults can acquire them through intimate physical contact so they were categorized as sexually transmitted diseases. Although these type of warts can disappear on their own, medical treatment is still advisable to prevent it from spreading.

Molluscum Contagiosum – an overview

Molluscum contagiosum, the infectious virus that leads to molluscum warts, is included in the poxvirus family that typically affects the surface of the skin. Once they have been passed through the barrier of the skin, an incubation period occurs before the warts finally appear. They will not affect the internal organs and they are completely harmless but their unsightly appearance makes them bothersome. When they are rubbed or scratched, they can also spread to other areas of the body.

Mollusca refer to flesh-colored or pink dome-shaped warts. They usually have a shiny appearance of tiny indentations where white cores are located at the center. While these warts can appear on any part of the body, they are usually present in areas that frequently come into contact with each other such as the groin area and elbow folds. They tend to grow in clusters or row-like patterns on the stomach, buttocks, chest, and even on the face or eyelids.

Diagnosis and treatment

Dermatologists and doctors can easily identify mollusca by simply judging their appearance. Sometimes, skin scraping may also be needed to make an accurate diagnosis. Mollusca are benign and they will eventually go away even if they are left untreated. However, doctors may still advise appropriate treatment to prevent molluscum warts from spreading to other areas of the body. They can be removed with the use of certain acids of advanced laser therapies. Repeated sessions may also be necessary if more warts grow and reappear.

Liquid nitrogen may also be used to get rid of mollusca. In this procedure, the skin lesions destroyed through direct freezing. The same type of liquid nitrogen therapy is also used for curing other types of warts as well as pre-skin cancers. It is performed by a physician who directly applies the chemical to the skin lesions. Other cryogenic substances may also be used but liquid nitrogen led to the most successful results.

The best thing about cryogenic therapy is that it does not cause much pain and it produces faster results than other wart removal methods. It may cause a stinging or burning sensation during the thaw period but the pain will eventually go away once the thaw is complete. Getting rid of molluscum warts is not really that hard, especially if you are aware of all the treatment options available.

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