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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Molluscum Worries
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Dermatology issues, such as: skin rashes, acne, birthmarks, skin infections, rosacea, and general skin care.
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Molluscum Worries
by hookah, Feb 27, 2006 12:00AM
Doctor,
Around two years ago I was diagnosed with Molluscum Contagiosum on my face. I had quite a few of them and my doctor recommended HIV testing. Though I was not high risk, I took the test and it was negative. I became obsessive about it, and began testing over and over out until about a year after I noticed the bumps. I concluded I got infected from a used razor blade a boss gave to use at a restaurant.
I have long periods of not finding any bumps and then I get a few, normally when I feel stressed or not getting much sleep. At least I think they are molluscum. I have been popping them with sterilized push-pins and when i do so the skin or the core is very hard - and after I insert the pin, when I pull on the tack trying to remove the core, the skin/plug is very hard and sometimes the needle pops out and makes a pretty loud popping noise. Pretty sure thats MC.
So, I am wondering why it continues to recur after two years if I am otherwise healthy? Is there a rogue lesion that I am not finding that I keep autoinnoculating with? How much longer can I expect to deal with recurrences?
I can't stand it anymore as every time I get an outbreak I worry that I have HIV, but that has been ruled out, no? I recently got a CBC done and my blood counts all were in normal range..should I still look for some other immune deficiency?
Around two years ago I was diagnosed with Molluscum Contagiosum on my face. I had quite a few of them and my doctor recommended HIV testing. Though I was not high risk, I took the test and it was negative. I became obsessive about it, and began testing over and over out until about a year after I noticed the bumps. I concluded I got infected from a used razor blade a boss gave to use at a restaurant.
I have long periods of not finding any bumps and then I get a few, normally when I feel stressed or not getting much sleep. At least I think they are molluscum. I have been popping them with sterilized push-pins and when i do so the skin or the core is very hard - and after I insert the pin, when I pull on the tack trying to remove the core, the skin/plug is very hard and sometimes the needle pops out and makes a pretty loud popping noise. Pretty sure thats MC.
So, I am wondering why it continues to recur after two years if I am otherwise healthy? Is there a rogue lesion that I am not finding that I keep autoinnoculating with? How much longer can I expect to deal with recurrences?
I can't stand it anymore as every time I get an outbreak I worry that I have HIV, but that has been ruled out, no? I recently got a CBC done and my blood counts all were in normal range..should I still look for some other immune deficiency?
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Feb 27, 2006 12:00AM
, Feb 27, 2006 12:00AM
Since you don't have HIV, you have nothing to worry about. Plenty of perfectly healthy people get molluscum, sometimes over and over.
Having said that, I am not at all sure that you still have molluscum at all. Small oil glands look like molluscum, and if you keep popping them with push-pins(!), you're never going to be able to tell. You can't diagnose molluscum by a popping noise.
I strongly urge you to leave your face alone and let a professional diagnose you properly so you can be relieved of your obsession.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Having said that, I am not at all sure that you still have molluscum at all. Small oil glands look like molluscum, and if you keep popping them with push-pins(!), you're never going to be able to tell. You can't diagnose molluscum by a popping noise.
I strongly urge you to leave your face alone and let a professional diagnose you properly so you can be relieved of your obsession.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
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Am I correct in understanding that there is no way no how in human understanding of biology that I could have HIV, which caused the molluscum, and then tested negative a year out?
Unequivocally no? Absolute?
Dr. Rockoff