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Community Corner

The Miserable Little Molluscum

What to do if and when this virus moves in and how to prevent its spreading.

Have you ever looked at your skin only to find a small, dome shaped, shiny little growth?  They can appear singly or sometimes there are clusters of the little things, sitting on your body like a small colony of pink igloos.  

You just might have a crop of Molluscum Contagiosum moving in for a visit.  Although it's name sounds like a cross between a shellfish and a spell from Harry Potter, the molluscum is a highly contagious skin infection that can be difficult to cure.

Molluscum are caused by a virus and are spread by skin to skin contact. Your child can pick up a case by playing with friends at school, using someone else's towel or washcloth or even sharing a scarf or sweater. They are also spread by sexual contact and are classified as a venereal wart. Clusters can appear in the genital area of men and women and spread to other areas. They are itchy and of course scratching spreads them all over the place. The interior of the wart contains a small white "seed" which is host to the virus. Left on their own, they can multiply rapidly and last  anywhere from a few weeks to two years. 

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Meanwhile, any contact with the warts spreads them around to other parts of the body and other people as well. Because they are viral, they will be around for as long as you harbor the virus. Once contracted, they can blitz through the family like wildfire. A dermatologist can certainly treat molluscum, but you must do your part as well and sanitize sheets and pillowcases, clothing and towels, anything that comes in contact with the skin. 

Make sure your child isn't infecting others or sharing possible means of transmission. Wash towels, bedding and clothes separately with a half cup of bleach, a good detergent, and use hot water. Same for adults. Hand washing with a soap such as Dial will help to keep contagion down.

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The treatment can consist of freezing, cauterizing, laser treatment and excision, where the little seed inside is removed with a curette and the wart treated with solution. Yes, this can sometimes result in scarring, so be aware if you scar or keloid easily.  

As a Naturopath, I have found great success in zapping these nasty little growths with a product called TERRASIL, available on the Internet. It's totally painless, completely natural, and really does work. I have no financial interest in this product or any product, and so I pass it on to you. If you decide to use it, don't be alarmed by it's color, it's black. This is from a combination of ingredients, including colloidal silver. It's an anti-viral, so it attacks the source of the infection without pain. Use a non-latex glove to apply it, follow the directions, and wash your hands thoroughly when you are finished. 

Many cases of molluscum begin to die off in just a few days. Molluscum Contagiosum and other warts do not indicate that one is dirty or has poor hygiene.  They are simply evidence that you got in the path of a virus and it decided to move in.

If you would like an appointment with Dr. Kleine, contact 631.569.9719

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