Molluscum contagiosum is a benign viral disease of the skin and mucous membranes.
It is caused by the molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV).
The virus produces a substance that affects the infected cells and causes their uncontrolled proliferation, resulting in visible clinical lesions.
It can also be transmitted through sexual contact, affecting the genital organs and the skin of the perigenital area.
These are visible, hemispherical, round, flesh-colored or slightly pink papules, measuring 2 to 5 millimeters in diameter, with a characteristic umbilicated center. The lesions begin as small, skin-colored bumps with a soft texture, later increasing in size, becoming firmer, not easily ruptured, and containing a solid, white core. They usually appear in clusters, but may also be solitary.
The incubation period of the disease varies from 14 days to up to 6 months. The disease often resolves spontaneously within 6 to 9 months, but it may persist for 3 to 4 years. Diagnosis is primarily clinical and is based on the identification of the characteristic umbilicated lesions. In the case of a solitary lesion, differential diagnosis should include pyogenic granuloma, keratoacanthoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.
Molluscum contagiosum includes four types:
- Type 1 (MCV-1) primarily affects children.
- Type 2 (MCV-2) is more common in adults.
- Types 3 and 4 rarely cause infection.
The last two types are transmitted through sexual contact.
The disease is highly contagious and spreads through autoinoculation at sites of skin disruption or through direct contact with skin lesions.
In addition, transmission can occur through the shared use of clothing, towels, and personal equipment in various sports. Itching and scratching of the affected area contribute to the spread and multiplication of the lesions.
The treatment of choice for the disease is the mechanical removal of the lesions using surgical forceps.
Other alternative treatment methods include:
- Cryotherapy,
- laser treatment (CO₂, Pulse Dye), and
- photodynamic therapy.
The fact that you recovered from molluscum contagiosum does not mean that you developed immunity to the virus.
It is possible to become infected again. Moreover, molluscum contagiosum is not a virus that remains dormant in the body after treatment, like the herpes virus.
If you had been treated and later notice symptoms again, it means you have been reinfected.
Sometimes molluscum contagiosum is self-limiting and resolves without treatment.
However, it is essential to visit a dermatologist and monitor the lesions, as if they increase in size, treatment becomes more time-consuming and the risk of scarring increases.
Laser removal of the lesions is considered a first-line treatment, as it is safe, targeted, and effective.
Specifically, the laser beam targets only the lesion (without affecting the surrounding skin), helping to avoid injury, scarring, and marks.
When preceded by a detailed dermoscopic examination to detect and locate all lesions, laser treatment allows for their precise removal, ensuring the effectiveness of the therapy and the complete elimination of all lesions.
Finally, the treated area heals quickly, leaving the skin aesthetically intact.
However, it should be noted that the treating dermatologist will determine the most appropriate method of treatment for each individual case.