Force Health Care

Molluscum contagiosum is a very common skin infection that causes small pearly or flesh-colored bumps. The bumps may be clear, and the center often is indented. The bumps may be either clear or red and inflamed. They are often seen in groups in one or two areas. Bumps may develop along with eczema, and you may not notice the bumps as much as the eczema.
Most of the bumps are often found on the trunk, face, eyelids, or genital area in temperate climates and on extremities in the tropics. In children, bumps usually appear on the trunk, face, and arms. In sexually active teens and young adults, the bumps are often located in the genital area. The infection is caused by a virus. The virus is easily spread but is not harmful.
Molluscum contagiosum in people who have an impaired immune system, such as HIV infection, can be more serious. These bumps are hard to treat, and can mimic other serious diseases of people with HIV infection. Conditions that may appear similar to molluscum contagiosum include warts, chickenpox, genital warts, basal cell skin cancer, and lichen planus.
Molluscum contagiosum is usually diagnosed during a physical exam. If you have bumps in genital area, your doctor may check for other sexually transmitted diseases, such as genital herpes. Some doctors may consider testing for human immunodeficiency virus if you are at risk for the condition and you have bumps on your face or other symptoms of a severe case of molluscum contagiosum. A biopsy may be done if the diagnosis is unclear and other conditions are suspected.
Treatment for molluscum contagiosum is not always needed because most bumps will go away within two to four months, although they may last longer. But if bumps are visible or embarrassing, or in order to prevent their spread, you may want them removed. Removal or other treatment is recommended for bumps in the genital area.
You apply the nonprescription medicine salicylic acid directly to the bumps. It is usually not painful and is often regarded as the first treatment to try. Immunotherapy triggers your immune system to fight the virus causing the skin growth. Small studies have shown that it is successful about eighty percent of the time.
Manual extrusion means that viral material is removed by squeezing bumps with fingers or forceps. This is done by a doctor to avoid scarring and to keep infection from spreading. Curettage means that the viral material in the center of the bump is scraped out. A local or topical anesthetic can be used to numb the area. This procedure may cause scarring.
Your doctor may apply a chemical to the bumps. This destroys the top layers of the skin, allowing a new layer to form. When the chemical is applied, you may feel a burning sensation. Side effect may include mild scarring. How often and how long the chemical is applied will vary. Chemicals used include trichloroacetic acid, podophyllin resin, potassium hydroxide, and cantharidin.
Cryotherapy means that the bump is frozen with liquid nitrogen. A local anesthetic may be used to numb the area. The liquid nitrogen is sprayed or applied with a cotton-tip applicator for five or more seconds. This procedure usually is not too painful, is not as likely as curettage to cause scarring, and usually is effective. Often, more than one treatment is needed.
Treatment varies depending on your age and health and the location of bumps. Although synthetic chemical drugs are effective, they have much side effects with high price. Some ailments could not be treated by synthetic drugs. Plant medicine comes from natural and is safer than synthetic drugs when treating molluscum contagiosum. The efficacy of plant medicine for molluscum is conclusive with scientific pharmacology to illustrate, which enhances the confidence of patients.
Plant medicine has excellent antiviral activity against hulled viruses as it causes their cellular death upon exposure. The antiviral properties of this natural treatment for molluscum have a tremendous therapeutic impact to eradicate viral pathogens, especially those infecting the skin. Plant medicine is a powerful antiviral agent which inhibits the signal transduction pathways of the molluscum viral proteins. As a result, it provides a profound healing effect against the molluscum contagiosum virus. To learn more, please go to http://www.naturespharma.org.