The author of this article, Briant Burke, a distinguished medical doctor and research scientist has personally dealt with Molluscum Contagiosum and has developed ZymaDerm™. Please visit naturopathix.com for more information.

1. www.naturopathix.com – Briant Burke, MD, MS, Developer of ZymaDerm™
How to get rid Molluscum Contagiosum with the help of topical medicines
Molluscum contagiosum, more commonly known as Molluscum, is one of the skin conditions
that is very difficult to get rid of. Caused due to virus Molluscum, it leads to small, skin
coloured, painless lesions on different parts of the body. Although this condition is harmless, it
is still quiet unappealing if it infects the face, arms, neck or other exposed parts of the body.
As it is highly contagious so it can easily spread to other parts of the body as well.
Molluscum is one of the larger viruses, has a complex structure and can survive for a long
time. If not treated, Molluscum legions can last from 6 months – 6 years. As the virus sits on the
surface of the skin so the body’s defence system is not able to detect and fight against it.
Physical Removal Methods: As this condition affects children and young adults a lot, they are
always on the lookout for an effective treatment for this condition. Over the years many
different treatment methods have evolved for the physical removal of the lesions.
Dermatologists recommendlaser, liquid nitrogen, actual scraping or acid solution for the
treatment. The choice of the treatment will depend on the age, affected area and health
condition of the patient.
Some of these treatments are painful and may require local anaesthesia. This can be
upsetting for young children. If not done by an experienced dermatologist, it can also lead
to permanent scars. In such a situation many people prefer to use molluscum contagiosum
cream instead.
Oral and topical treatment methods: As many of the patients are not very keen on using one
the painful physical removal methods, different medicines for molluscum contagiosum can
be used by them. Some of the commonly used topical treatments available in the form of
creams, lotions and ointments are:
 Potassium hydroxide: This is mostly available in the liquid form and is recommended to
be applied twice daily on the affected spots. Using potassium hydroxide causes the
skin of the affected area to breakdown and the body’s immune system starts acting
on the virus. It may cause slight itching and redness but the lesions usually disappear
in a few weeks.
 Podophyllotoxin: This liquid is applied on each spot with a special application stick.
This treatment method also causes slight skin irritation.
 Imiquimod: This is a medicated cream that is to be applied on the affected skin for 6-
10 hours and then washed off. This cream is used for the effective treatment of larger
clusters and bigger lesions. The application should be done 3 times a week and the
effects will start showing in a couple of weeks.
 Benzoyl peroxide: Available in both cream and gel form, it should be used sparingly
as it can harm the skin and make it more sensitive.
 Tretinoin: This is another medicine that is available in the liquid form and should be
applied twice a day but can leave the skin more sensitive to UV rays. It is best
avoided by pregnant women.
In addition to the topical treatment, there are some prescription drugs that can also help
treat this condition. It is advised to consult a dermatologist and follow the prescribed
treatment route.