New Mexico AIDS Infonet s10

AIDS InfoNet www.aidsinfonet.org Fact Sheet Number 513 MOLLUSCUM WHAT IS MOLLUSCUM? HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE Molluscum contagiosum is a skin MOLLUSCUM? CAN MOLLUSCUM BE infection. It is caused by a virus. A health care provider can easily PREVENTED? Molluscum causes small bumps identify molluscum lesions. They are Because the virus that causes (lesions) to appear on the skin. Most of waxy, flesh-colored bumps that don’t molluscum is so common, it is not them are less than half an inch in hurt or itch. There are only one or two possible to avoid being exposed to it. diameter. They have a hard white core. other infections that cause skin However, if you have molluscum you Some lesions have a small dent or problems that look at all similar to should make sure that the lesions don’t dimple in the center. The lesions are molluscum. touch anyone else. You should also be the same color as normal skin, but they careful not to spread molluscum to look waxy. They usually don’t hurt or different parts of your body. itch. HOW IS MOLLUSCUM Be careful not to scratch the lesions or The molluscum virus is very common, TREATED? to cut them while shaving. Some health and almost everyone has it in his or her Molluscum lesions are treated the care providers think that using an body. A healthy immune system will same way as warts. Unfortunately, the electric shaver helps prevent the control molluscum so that if lesions lesions often return and need to be spread of molluscum. appear, they do not last a long time. treated again. People with weakened immune  They can be frozen with liquid systems can develop molluscum nitrogen. This is the most common lesions that spread, last a long time, method of treatment. DRUG INTERACTION and are very difficult to treat. About  They can be burned with an PROBLEMS 20% of people with AIDS will develop electric needle (electrocautery) or The acne drugs tretinoin (Retin-A) and molluscum. a laser. This treatment can be isotretinoin (Accutane) tend to dry out painful and sometimes leaves the skin. Dry skin is also a side effect Molluscum is not a serious health scars. of the protease inhibitor indinavir problem. However, many people find  They can be treated with (Crixivan) and some other antiretroviral the molluscum lesions to be very chemicals used on warts such as medications (ARVs). If you take use unattractive. This can cause serious trichloroacetic acid (TCA), Retin-A or Accutane to treat molluscum emotional or psychological problems. podophyllin, or podofilox. These along with ARVs that can cause dry chemicals can not be used on skin, your skin problems could get sensitive skin or near the eyes. worse.  They can be cut or “scooped” out HOW DOES MOLLUSCUM surgically. This treatment can be SPREAD? painful and can leave scars. Molluscum can be spread by direct  They can be treated with drugs THE BOTTOM LINE skin contact. It often spreads through used to treat acne such as tretinoin Molluscum is a viral infection that can sexual activity. Molluscum can infect (Retin-A) or isotretinoin produce skin lesions. Although they are any part of the skin, but it is especially (Accutane). This is a newer not medically dangerous, the lesions common on the face or in the groin and approach. These drugs reduce the can cause serious emotional and pubic areas. amount of oil in the skin. The top psychological problems. layer of skin dries out and peels It can be spread from existing lesions off. These drugs can cause Molluscum can be spread from person to other parts of the body or to other redness and soreness. Retin-A is a to person by direct skin contact. It can people. It can also be spread by cream that is put onto the lesions. be spread during sexual activity. If you objects (or clothing) that came in Accutane is taken in pill form. have molluscum, you can spread the contact with a lesion.  Another approach is to use the lesions to new areas if you shave with antiviral medications cidofovir, a blade. Men with HIV often develop molluscum cantharidin or imiquimod. These on their face. Shaving with a razor drugs are applied directly onto the Molluscum lesions are removed in the blade can spread it. lesions. They can cause local skin same ways as warts. Unfortunately, irritation. they often return and have to be treated again.

A Project of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care and the New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center. Partially funded by the National Library of Medicine. Fact Sheets can be downloaded from the Internet at http://www.aidsinfonet.org Reviewed April 21, 2014

A Project of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care and the New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center. Partially funded by the National Library of Medicine. Fact Sheets can be downloaded from the Internet at http://www.aidsinfonet.org