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Original poster

molluscum - does anything work?

33 replies

littlerats · 25/11/2010 13:36

My DSS (6) has had molluscum for a while now, mainly around his bottom/groin area and my DS (24 months) now appears to have contracted this from his brother. He has to spots on his groin, armpits, stomach and thighs. He's had one or two for about 6 months but they now seem to be spreading all over his body. I'm a nightmare because I can't help myself but want to pick/squeeze them but obviously at just 2 he is very resistent to me picking at any bit of his body (I've even tried to pick them at night when he's asleep - so he wakes up groggy to me furtling under his pyjamas and I can only get one at a time before he wakes!).
Has anyone used anything that seemed to work on them? Online searches reveal lots of herbal type treatments but only want to fork-out and treat them both if there is a possibility of success.
Any experiences gratefully received.

OP posts:
Seona1973 · 25/11/2010 14:18

I tried zymaderm and colloidal silver but neither made a difference. DD had them for ages and the only thing that helped was when the surgeon removed some of them when she was under anaesthetic for an eye op!! (they were on her arm and also a couple on her face)

SatinShoes · 25/11/2010 19:38

AFAIK picking them can spread them. The hard waxy core in the middle is the infectious bit.

dearprudence · 25/11/2010 19:39

Nothing worked for me. They went in time.

NoahAndTheWhale · 25/11/2010 19:40

DD has had them fir about 6 months or so. When some got infected we found steroid cream helped with that. But apart from that there doesn't seem to be anything.

Although they have been looking a bit better the past few days.

DuchessOfAvon · 25/11/2010 19:41

The only thing that worked for us was lancing the really ripe ones with a needle. Once they burst, they go. But basically, you have to wait them out.

TheRedQueen · 25/11/2010 20:08

littlerats - some people have had success with alypaly's method, which is to prick the "mother wart" with iodine - search "iodine" and "molluscum" in the Talk "advanced search" archive and you should find the relevant threads.

My DD had molluscum for ca. 18 months. Started on her back and then spread to her armpit, from where it just went mad and covered lots of her side, abdomen and back. Then it disappeared virtually overnight, much to our surprise (and eternal relief!).

I received what I think was a very valuable piece of advice from my doctor, which was to leave it alone (i.e. no picking - it spreads it and makes it worse!) and ensure that the DD's skin was always well-moisturised, with no dry flaky areas. The doctor said that the molluscum virus spreads over and not under the skin and dry skin provides an ideal environment for it to thrive (hence the reason that it is particularly difficult to get rid of if the child has excema). I was a bit sceptical at first, but it is certainly the case that the molluscum disappeared very quickly once we started plastering a simple emolient on.

That apart, you do have my greatest sympathies. It's a bloody nuisance of an infection and it feels like it will never go. But it does. And sooner than you think.

waveknight · 25/11/2010 20:13

I was told by the doctor that they could be squeezed when they get a head on them. You should use q-tips or tissue and of course wash your hands before and afterwards. Ds has had them for several months so hoping we won't have long before they go.

I was reccommended to put tea tree oil on them which we have just started doing.

Someone on here said to dip a cocktail stick in iodine then pierce the spots which they said worked. Sounded a bit painful to me.

Velvetbee · 25/11/2010 23:09

Tea tree oil works brilliantly. Just dab neat oil on each spot with a cotton-bud, night and morning if you remember.

Original poster
littlerats · 26/11/2010 13:50

Thanks for all the advice - I've been washing him in tea tree soap to try and help and I'm trying very hard to curb my picking habit - I just can't see spots of any kind without wanting to pick at them. I did try the "mother spot" method but I think I just managed to spread the infection around his armpit (location of mother spot) as the following morning there where 3-4 more little ones. I will stop picking and moisturise frequently.

OP posts:
FlyingFig · 26/11/2010 19:50

Nothing we tried worked (squeezing, Thuja, colloidal silver) - almost 2 years later and DS has the one damned spot left, so it looks as we're about to wave goodbye to Molloscum at long last!

We had antibiotic cream for the times they became infected but the cream only treated the infection within the molloscum, not the actual spots.

DS had them on his face which was awful - it's a horrible condition, hope it clears up in your DC's soon.

MadameCastafiore · 26/11/2010 19:52

We got rid of DSs in a mtter fo weeks with Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream applied liberally after a bath each night.

Not v cheap!

Towanmummies · 27/11/2010 21:34

no no don't pick them.... seriously- they breed like you wouldn't believe and the liquidy stuff that comes out is what creates more. they are highly contagious (although totally harmless). parents might get some too although in adults the only skin that gets them is genital skin. this does not mean your bits have been anywhere near your kids, just that some squeezed out stuff has managed to get onto your skin when you got changed/washed etc. kids grow out of them, the only treatment relaly is to freeze them with liquid nitrogen (kids normally don't agree to this!!) adults can get theirs frozen (if they want) at local GU clinic. (i work at one which is how i know all this) worth going there rather than GP as it sounds like the GP advice in this thread is slightly... misguided. they're not a sexually transmitted disease, although of course if one adult has some on their bits then their partner may get some too. advice is not to shave your bits as this takes the tops off and spreads them. anecdotal evidence has suggested they can be spread by sharing wetsuits... towels we're not sure on yet. hope some of this helps...

sailorsgal · 27/11/2010 21:51

I touch ds's everyday and I have never got them so not sure how contagious they are.

The tea tree oil seems to be working.

The gp gave me a handout that said to squeeze them. It hasn't spread them but its not getting rid of them either so will give it a miss.

sailorsgal · 27/11/2010 21:52

Ds hasn't shared a wetsuit but I wonder if he got it from those biscuit thingys that they wear at swimming.

Appletrees · 27/11/2010 21:54

COMFREY CREAM

the only thing that really works

Appletrees · 27/11/2010 21:55

they are hugely contagious.. "use your own towel" type contagious

sailorsgal · 27/11/2010 21:56

Ds does have his own towel and I wash it everyday.

cat64 · 27/11/2010 21:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

sailorsgal · 27/11/2010 22:00

Comfrey cream, will give it a go, just read it works on wrinkles aswell. Two for the price of one Grin

iwastooearlytobeayummymummy · 27/11/2010 22:02

Please, just leave them alone they will go,but if you pick at them they will leave a pockmark.

WhatsWrongWithYou · 27/11/2010 22:07

I was googling something else the other day, and came across Terrasil Cream, which they claimed would help with this as well as my little problem.

No idea if it works, but both my DSes had molluscum for at least 18mo and it was horrid - I'm sure I'd try it if any of mine had it now.
Also came across Perrins Blends - can't link as on itouch.

Marrow · 27/11/2010 22:11

I hate molluscum! DD has had it for a year and is very self conscious about it. She gets comments from other children at school. It gets very sore and itchy for her and I put hydrocortisone cream on when it is bad.

I am pregnant and desperate for it to go before the baby arrives as scared the baby will get it.

alypaly · 28/11/2010 00:29

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childrens_health/866908-Molluscum

here is a link to another thread. I had amazing success after being told by a doctor that there was nothing i could do. my son had over 200 and after treating them they disappeared really quickly. others have done the prick test too,with great success

SatinShoes · 28/11/2010 09:24

My GP told me that most adults had them in childhood as it is so common, which is why you dont get them now.

WhatsWrongWithYou · 28/11/2010 11:37

Cream as mentioned above.

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