Molluscum - I hate hate hate hate it.

[twolittlekings]

I know there are quite a few threads on here re Molluscum so I am sorry to start another one but recently DS1's have gone from a couple to quite a few on his trunk and arms. From thinking I would not do anything about it I am now wanting to get rid of it as soon as I can (especially since I have heard it can take 18 months to clear). I have a 3 month DS2 that I don't want to infect and it's starting to affect the way I allow DS1 to interect with DS2.

I have looked on here to see what the best method it and it seems to be quite varied. I have done some internet research but what I can't seem to find out is whether if I prick all of the spots in one place and they go, will that be it providing I don't infect anywhere else on his body in the process - or will the spots just appear randomly somewhere else anyway?

I have to get rid of them as I don't want them to start s[reading to his hands and face - especially as they appear to leave pin prick marks afterwards. Do these go away in time?

[CarGirl]

You will need to scratch off each cluster. If they've not been there very long they should go quite quickly. The won't necessarily pop up anywhere else but there's not guarantee. When they become infected the immune system realises that they are being attacked by the virus and creates antibodies.

dd only had hers for weeks, she scratched them as they bothered her, I think they were itchy because she has excema, the disappeared in a couple of weeks after that never to return.

[whomovedmychocolatecookie]

DS had them and they vanished within a month. I think it's very varied. Please don't go poking your poor son without getting a GPs advice first. I know it's a PITA but it's not harmful and your DS2 will probably get it eventually anyway.

[twolittlekings]

Sorry - have realised there is a kids health section so have moved it there. Sorry.

[twolittlekings]

Have just seen you replies - very odd as my pc was showing none. Thanks for the advice - yes I am reluctant to squeeze them. I think the 1st one appeared in the summer so they ahve been there a few months.

[alypaly]

twolittlekings my DS1 had over 100 .i got a cocktail stick dipped in iodine which was the instructions from one of my old dermatology books. Pricked them all as hard as i dared (whilst holding down sreaming child...). Drew blood on a few as i used a sharp stick. Some became inflamed and set a chain reaction off and within 3 weeks they each flared up and disappeared. Not had one back since. I used to work in dermatolgy and the book i have was brilliant.

[Heated]

Went separately to the GP for both ds and dd, as ds scratched his and they started to look a bit inflamed. GP said they were infected and suggested bursting them after a warm bath and applying the antibiotic cream and they were gone in about 10 days. DD's weren't infected but since the treatment worked so well for ds, the gp was happy again to give antibiotic cream.

[alypaly]

its the inflammation that makes them go.all DS1 's went red and then just went? no antibiotics...just a little prick..if you pardon the expression!!!

[twolittlekings]

Brilliant - I will try that. Thanks for this

[OmicronPersei8yourbrain]

I pricked 3 of DD's molluscum (after reading about it on MN) that she's had since the begninning of the summer, they flaired up and are now gone. Quite amazing, it only took a couple of weeks and she's had them for months. Just two left now.. I'm waiting to see if they go or if I need to prick them too.

I agree that they're horrible things.

[alypaly]

evryone thinks they are warts,and thechildren get really self conscious dont they

[twolittlekings]

Quick update for anyone interested - went to GP today since DS has started to get quite bad molluscum. He also has eczma to complicate it - epiaderm sorted that. Anyway have been prescribed a relatively new cream called "Crystacid" which apparently is very effective at clearing it up. Have to dot it on the spots for about 3 weeks.

Will let you know how I get on.

[LouW]

How are you getting both mine now have them and her's look awful?

[badietbuddy]

My ds got it last year and I was horrified when I was told how long it would last. It went from 1 or 2 spots to quite a few covering his arms and trunk. Dd and I never got it despite lots of contact, sharing baths etc. I can't say for sure what made it disappear but it did literally clear up overnight and no scars were left. Ds got an unrelated skin condition for which he was prescribed antibiotics, and apparently this can kick start the imune system into recognising the molloscum. I also admit I started scratchign off the larger ones, which apparently has the same effect. I'd steer clean of expensive creams, and I know how close I came to ordering some I was so desperate. I found it really quite difficult to deal with as I had (unknown to be at that point) pretty bad pnd anyway and I felt it was my fault somehow. It's actually a lot more common than I realised, and from being such a big issue, it really did resolve itself overnight. Hang in there

[rosie12345]

My 18 year old daughter had molluscum for about 6 months. She was very self conscious about it as it was under her armpit and over the top of her arm so showed when wearing strappy tops etc. We tried some different creams but got nowhere. We also tried squeezing them but that was painful and I worried about scarring so we thought she would just have to let it run its course as advised by our doctor. She then went travelling to Thailand and the heat and humidity made it flare up much worse and it became very itchy. Her Thai guide took her to a local doctor who prescibed a cream for genital warts! It cleared up almost overnight and has never come back! I was amazed when she came home. Not a sign of it. Not sure this would be suitable for small children but thought I would post it for whats it worth as I was tearing my hair out trying to find something that worked.

[Queeniesmum]

The dreaded Molloscum has finally gone! My boys had it for about 6 months at about 3 years old and when my daughter got them I followed my Doctors advice that they would just go. 18 months later they were worse than ever so i tried an age old remedy. I took a bottle of organic cider vinegar, tipped into an egg cup and dabbed each of the bloomin things with a cotton bud, after her bath. Now, my daughter was tired and laid on my bed and when she nodded off i dabbed each one with a dot of vinegar from the cotton bud. The next morning they were darker red and within a week they had all gone! Miracle and perfect timing as the summer came and she can wear pretty dresses again!

[deaddei]

They are buggars.
Dcs had them for a couple of years- dozens of them.
They have lots of little pinpricks on trunk and arms.

[Maryobriant31]

My daughter has had molluscum for 7 months and some have gotten infected .. it's just soo annoying wish i could put some cream on it and it would go away.. her dr said just leave em alone but its been 7 months and 3 times had an infection underneath them. Just tired of it