molluscum contagiosum children

[MLPB]

Hello, I am new to this so apologies if I get this wrong!

Our D has had this for around 18 months now. They are spreading to her face which is making me become impatient with them going naturally.

I tried Collodial Silver spray twice a day for a month.... It didn't get rid of any although it seemed not to spread either.

I then tried pure Tea Tree Oil, dipped on a cotton bud & applied to each spot using a new cotton bud every time twice a day. This seemed to burn the skin and again no change.

We are now using Hydrocortisone Cream prescribed by our Doctor twice a day. We are now on day 5 and if anything they are bigger!

I wouldn't mind too much if only on her body but to be on her face is just heart breaking.

Forgive me as I know their are parents with children who have life threatening illnesses, but I was just wondering if someone could help guide me on what they might look like when they start to go....

Do they get larger perhaps?

Or give guidance on how or what might help speed up the process. Thank you x

[GiveMumABreak]

After much research - I also got Thuja (ointment and tablets) from homeopathic supplier on eBay - it cleared my daughters molluscum up in about two weeks (I also washed her pjs, towel and any other clothing that she wore daily - during this time)

I feel for you OP - it's very upsetting!

[whatkungfuthat]

I would say squeezing seems to work. DS2 had them on his back for ages when he was a toddler, then when they spread to the front they disappeared really quickly. We found out that he had been squeezing them when he tried to squeeze one on his arm that he had already got and said "no good". I didn't see any bleeding though

[BerylStreep]

Haven't read the whole thread, but a friend told me that allowing them pop spreads the spores, so they should be covered.

She dealt with her DS by squeezing and dabbing vinegar on. I remember her telling me, my face was one of pure horror.

[CoteDAzur]

"But they are viral, not an infection"

Err, MC is a viral skin infection.

[AvonCallingBarksdale]

Oh, it's horrible DD had it for 2 years on her torso. In the end I did squeeze some of the really big ones, which she hated, but they went v soon after. Whether it was "time" for them to go or not, I, at least, felt like I was doing something to help her!! To look now, you'd never know - there are a few pin prick scars but that's it and she had a lot, although, thankfully never on her face. I'd never heard of it before she got them - DS didn't have it.

[teddymummy]

All three of my dc have had them. With the first child they spread and were very ugly so bought some silver treatment and used immune system boosting vitamins. We took her out of school for a week to the sunshine and treated her and the sun/ sea really cleared them up.
The younger two have had them for over a year. Last night I popped an angry red one on ds back, the pearl came out easily, no pain, just a little blood. It is hopefully the last one in the house!
Incidentally my middle son was complaining of his old molloscum being itchy on Saturday. I pulled off what I thought was some dead skin with tweezers and a dried up pearl came out as well, a bit like a little carrot. It has left a tiny hole in his back, but must be the last part of the virus leaving his body. It was weird, but also quite satisfying!!

[Leafmould]

You may be interested in participating in research about molluscum contagiosum. You get a £10 voucher for taking part here

[duchesse]

I looked at that study a couple of weeks but DD3 who has it at the moment isn't old enough- children have to be 4 to take part.

[BadMissM]

DD had them when she was about 5. Were there for about 2 years, first under her am, then where she burnt her leg in an accident. Was told they were Molluscum Contagiosum by GP in London, and tried everything on them. When we moved north, new GP said they weren't...they were a kind of wart. She treated them as warts...they went. Moral of the tale, maybe get a couple of opinions....

[minxthemanx]

Squeeze em. Gets rid of them, and very, very satisfying for me.......

[4hoursanightisnotalright]

My DS had this last year, she was totally covered, the Dr said it was the worst case she had ever seen, also really aggravated by her excema. Anyway, she took Thuja homeopathic tablets daily and I used Epsom Salts and Lemon Myrtle in the bath. It seemed to bring them up, so after the bath we would sit and either she (aged 4 at the time) or I would gently squeeze the ones that had a sort of white spike poking out as they are ready to go. The white spiky bit comes out with some blood so have a tissue ready. The best bit though is once it stops bleeding use a spray plaster over the area to stop it spreading. Once we got on a roll we did this every night and within about 3-4 weeks they were totally gone and we are talking hundreds of the things. Now my son has it and he is a proper wuss about letting me touch them, but when they burst of their own accord I make sure I grab the plaster spray as it definitely stops them spreading. If any burst while during the day or in the night then wash those clothes on a hot wash to make sure you nix the bit that spreads. It will go soon. Good luck!

[thegreylady]

My dgs had them really badly from 15 months old.The worst ones were beside his eye though he had many on his body.If they became infected the doc gave antibiotics.By the time he was 3 they had completely gone leaving no scars.I used to fret and look on here for advice/remedies but dd held her nerve and honestly they have all gone [he is just 4] and you would never know he had had them.
Squeezing hurts likes hell and they are much more likely to become infected or leave scars.

[bugster]

My oldest DD had them them about a year and a half ago. I had never heard of them but the first one she got, which was the biggest, was on the inside of her arm in the joint, in a place where she has always had eczema. I didn't really look at it properly for a while and thought it was just a kind of eczema, then after a month or so took her to the doctor, thinking she needed a better ecuema treatment, and he told me it was molloscum. She only has about 2 or 3 on the same place on her arm. The doctor said she got them there because of the eczema, which had weakened her skin. He said although the virus is highly contagious, most people won't get it if exposed because they have immunity to it. Somhe prescribed a treatment which made them blister, and then they eventually healed in a few weeks, after looking really angry and horrible. One of them did get infected, and she had to take antibiotics, and the blistering liquid hurt her. AftervI first took her to the doctor more came up in the same area, and some on the ither arm in the same place, but I blitzed them with the liquid when they were tiny, so it kept it under control. Suddenly they just allmcleared up, and she didn't get any any more. Her doctor said at some point your body just develops that immunitywhich most people have in the first place, burning them stimulates the immune response.

I was told by the pharmacist that the affected skin should be covered to prevent contagion, and I put bandages on at night so she didn't spread it to other parts of thhe body by scratching in her sleep.

Te whole thing was very distressing but I guess we were lucky she didn't really have it that long and it was pnly on a part of her body which was covered, during the winter. It would have been much worse on the face!

I am now much more careful to keep the eczema at bay by slathering moisturisers on regularly, so that her skinisn't weakened and susceptible.

My younger DD never got a single spot, despite lots of contact before I knew what it was, shared bathwater etc. I guess she had the natural immunity.

It was pretty horrible, I would definitely go with trying to blitz them and if I see any more I'll do that right away!

[Mof4]

My dd3 had these for nearly two years. We were told the virus is contained in the white waxy substance in each spot (looks like pus) and when she would allow we squeezed these as they became inflamed, like they were ready to erupt and disposed of the white stuff, washed hands etc. If she didn't want us to squeeze we would put a plaster on until it had erupted and then dispose of. Cleared up in a month. She had one spot left which got inflamed almost a year later, we squeezed this one and touch wood that was the end. I really sympathise with anyone with a dc with this as ours used to get really upset about them.

[jennifersofia]

Just to add another 'cure' into the mix - we heard that comfrey cream / ointment was effective, so we bought some from the health food shop and applied it rigorously morning and evening to every molluscum, and they started to fade. No squeezing needed. It has taken a couple of months, but they are basically gone now, thank goodness, with a little bit of scarring, though I think that might go away in time. She (5 yr old) has had them about 9 months all over her torso. I think they were made worse / spread more because she was probably scratching the itchy ones at night. We were told that they were most commonly passed through the public swimming baths.

[goingmadinthecountry]

Treatment on mn many years ago when now grown up dd had them was Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream slathered all over. Not a clue why, but it worked for her and lots of others. Popped and cleaned last 4 and none of my 4 ever got them again.

Horrible thing.

[mamacoffee]

i can't believe the dr prescribed you hydrocortisone for MC. unless there is something else about the way the MC has progressed not mentioned in the OP, there is absolutely no need for hydrocortisone and i wonder if it would be effective in the long term anyway.

i started using an oil which ican't remember the name of but that was making slow progress.

then ds got chicken pox and the MC cleared up as the chicken pox cleared up!! ive read others who have had the same experience.

i think because MC is such a minor skin infection the skin doesn't even know its there so it doesn't fight it. but the chicken pox triggered the immune system to fight an infection on the skin and the MC got sorted at the same time.

so i would recommend a chicken pox party if your dc hasn't had it yet

[poppydoppy]

My children have had this. The only way to get rid of them is to squeeze the queen (the biggest one) and cover it with a plaster for 3 days. The smaller ones will fade out after about a week.

Is this a new virus as I don't remember anyone having this as a child?

[CoteDAzur]

OP - Hydrocortisone is not only ineffective against MC but also contraindicated in viral skin infections in general i.e. you shouldn't be using it for MC.

See here: "Like all topical corticosteroids, (Hydrocortisone) is contraindicated in skin infections and infestations such as chicken pox, herpes, and other viral infections"

Unless it is a specific cream that also has an anti-viral in it?

[DottyboutDots]

We tried everything. We've had two children have it and the trigger to them clearing up seems to be squeezing them carefully. Also, when the second got them, we covered them with plasters initially to help contain the spread. Eldest had them for 2 years and that seems like a lifetime ago now, though at the time it was horrible.

[09870987]

Went to see a dermatologist who put local anaesthetic cream on, waited and then used dry ice to freeze off. Only did about 25 at a time, but it seemed to kick start the immune system and the rest disappeared.

Squeezing them really hurts

[PaleHousewifeOfCumbriaCounty]

Consultant dermatologist prescribed some sort of peroxide stuff. Horrible and made it ten tines worse.

Saw homeopath who prescribed sulphur three times a day. Daily bath in plain water, treat one day with calendula cream, following day with tea tree. Gone in three weeks after an 8 month battle :)

[pocketandsweet]

Ok. Apologies if it has been said before.... I have not read all the thread but wanted to share what worked for my DD. Tried everything. Doctor said basically "just wait and it will go" but DD was just starting school and I didn't want her to be teased etc.

She had them in her armpit and they started to move down her arms and her tummy. Went to good health food shop/homeopath place and they recommended Thuja and Echinacea in liquid form ( both to be applied and taken internally). I was sceptical but thought nothing to loose well within 2 days of following a advice I could tell it was getting better. After a week or so ALOT better and then it just sorted of tailed off. BY two weeks in I was no longer worried at all and probably had stopped Thuja and was applying Echinacea only after baths (when I remembered). I really hope this helps someone else.... I had never heard of Molluscum and it is one thing to say "OH don't worry it's nothing and will go on its own" and quite another thing to have your little person breaking out in new spots all the time. Good luck

[SerBrienne]

I've never heard of spray plasters. Are they available over here??

[MinimalistMommi]

About seven years so, I was told to squeeze by GP when they came to a head and looked poppable (and yes lots of blood and not nice for DD) but they did heal up and never came back. She had them on back and torso. I wouldn't recommend this on face though bc of scarring, although I don't think any of my DD's did scar in long term.