Confused by Dr. Genital Warts or Molluscum

[jmclean818]

I just came from the doctor and am even more confused than when I went in.  About a month ago I notice some bumps in my bikini shaving area, I thought the were ingrown hairs at first, but they have not gone away.  When I went to the doctor she glanced at them and said they were genital warts.  I thought they seemed more consistant with Molluscum, round, flesh colored except when pressed then saw pearl white color inside.  She didn't seem to know about Molluscum and went a got a book to compare, when we looked she said they might be, and sice the treatment was the same (liquid nitrogen)she said she just go ahead and freeze them.  When she was freezing them she said she thought I was right about them not being genital warts because when she applied the nitrogen she coulds see a "pith" in the center not consistant with warts.  I never got a definite diagnosis or advice on what I should do. Obviously I'd rather it was mollusca, but I'm concerned about spreading warts if I do have them.  When I was researching this, I saw that genital warts turn white with vinegar, so I applied vinegar for my own curiosity and they did not turn white.  Do you think theses lesions are more likely to be genital warts caused by HPV or Mollusca?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

These are mollusca.  Mollusca develop a dimple, which is more noticeable when they are frozen, just as the doctor said.  Despite their name, mollusca are most often not contagiosa, and are not contracted from anyone--they just happen.  Kids get them often.  They have no cancerous implications, as regular HPV warts sometimes do.

Save the vinegar for the salad, have the doctor finish off the mollusca, and don't worry.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff