Molluscum or not??!!

[STNKMSTRFLX]

About 9 months ago, in March of this year, I noticed these tiny pin head sized bumps (with NO umbilication) on my lower abdomen and pubes. I broke them open and a little "ball" or white nodule came out of them. I went to my family doctor and he said that it was folliculitis and gave me a hydrocortizone cream. In July, I noticed more appear since the disapearance of the first set of bumps. I went back to my doctor and he said that he still thought that they were folliculitis and sent me to a derm. At this point I had a few left and my derm said that it was molluscum. I asked him to send it for a biopsy just to be 100 percent sure. Well, the biopsy was "lost" and I never got the results. When I went back to my derm for the results, I asked him if he was sure that what I had were molluscum and he said that he was almost 100 percent sure.  He told me that once they are gone they're gone. However, I kept monitoring the area and a month and a half later, I noticed one appear and I picked it off. Then, 3 weeks after that one, I noticed another one and picked it off. I went back to his office and asked him about it. I described to him the appearance of more of these bumps and the time in between them. I asked him that why if he said that my molluscum would be gone, would they appear like this. And he said that "it's very likely that what you had wasn't molluscum at all." He said that "Molluscum doesn't act like that. What you had was very tiny and molluscum is usually a tenth of the size of a dime." I told him that I read that molluscum usually lasts 6-9 months and he replied, "yeah, untreated". He said that if the same thing that came out of these "newer" bumps were the same thing as what he had seen originally, then he said that it probably wasn't molluscum. I asked him why he seemed so sure they were molluscum originally, and now doesn't, and he said that "sometimes you have to go back and review your original diagnosis in light of certain things." So then I thought that I didn't have molluscum. But now it's at least at the 9 month mark since I first noticed these bumps and today I just saw 5-6 of them on the top portion of my scrotum (right around where the scrotum skin meets the penis). My questions are: 1.) Given the length of time between outbreaks, do you agree with my derm that molluscum doesn't act like this? He said that molluscum wants to grow and doesn't act like the way I've described. 2.)Since molluscum goes away as you and him both said in 6-9 months untreated,(and I've had mine treated by picking them off) why would I still be getting "outbreaks" at the 9 month period after over a month or more of not seeing any? 3.)Given this information, what is your professional opinion on what this could be? Thank you very much for I'm worried. I want to start a new relationship, but how can I when I'm unsure that I have something like molluscum and they keep comming back?!

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Your dermatologist is correct.  However, whether likely or not, you keep getting bumps.  If you keep picking them off, no one will be able to tell you what they are.  To be certain, you should see the dermatologist again.  Biopsy is rarely needed for diagnosis.  Usually, if you freeze them with liquid nitrogen, a common and effective treatment, you can see the little dimple (umbilication), which confirms the diagnosis.  If the diagnosis is in doubt, I suppose the doctor can do another biopsy, just because you're so concerned.  As I've told many respondents, despite textbook assertions that molluscum is contagious, they rarely are.  Still, you'll feel a lot better about starting a relationship once you know the diagnosis for sure and get rid of whatever it is, unless it's just folliculitis and you don't even have to get rid of it because it doesn't matter.

Just please, for your own good, please stop picking them off.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[STNKMSTRFLX]

But have you ever seen Molluscum act like the way I've described in your experience?

[STNKMSTRFLX]

But have you ever seen Molluscum act the way that I've described, in your own experience?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Yes, I have.

Dr. Rockoff

[derma52]

I'm sorry, but I have been treated continuously over the past 7 months for Molluscum.  I have had cyro, acid and used Aldara, and I AM STILL getting them.  I am tired of getting them, but they don't seem to be going away.  I thought they had, only to get several more this week.  Yes, two doctors have told me I have Molluscum...100% certain because they see a lot of it.  I also don't pick at them, and if they don't go away, I get them taken off.

[STNKMSTRFLX]

Do they eventually stop appearing on those particular patients?

[Brasil]

Are there any natural ways to get rid of Molluscum. Has anyone had any success with a natural method?

[hyperenough]

here's an interesting question that i found on the web:

"Question: Many of the web sites I have visited state that molluscum is sexually transmitted. While it is that, it is also transmitted in “unknown" ways. I have it and neither my wife nor I have ever been with sexually involved with anyone but each other in 33 years of marriage, and she is not infected. It would help if there were more mention of this reality so that those of us who are "NOT GUILTY" of any moral infraction are not thought of as guilty. Thanks for allowing us this forum.


Answer: The disease you are taking about is called molluscum contagiosum and in fact it is NOT a sexually transmitted disease, even though it can be transmitted this way. The virus is usually transmitted through shaving, touching, scratching, and other forms of direct contact. So you have no reason to feel guilty about contracting this infection."

i've been struggling with this infection for a little over two years, and've been afraid to get into any relationships because of it.  the above question makes me feel a little better.  i know two other people that've had it, and they both said that it kept coming back for about 2 years, and that's about how long i've had it, so i'm hopeing it will go away soon.  i've gone as much as 5 months with no outbreaks, and right when i thought it was gone for good, another one would pop up.  i bought some steel curettes off the internet, and now i use that to scoop the molluscum out.  same thing my dermatologist charges $1,000 for.
anyway, from what my friends have said, i will be pretty certain that they will be gone for good when it's been about a year.  unfortunately, they've been popping up quite frequently this winter, so i guess i have a while.  hopefully this is among the last waves of them since i've been getting them really early.

[patric]

I had Molluscum on my genitals..Got them frozen off and within a week they werer completely gone..

[St. Even]

I am 23 and my wife and I both have Molluscum Contagiosum.  Her on her genitalia and me on my abdomen and genitals.  I am aware that it is supposed to go away on its own and I have accepted that, but here is my problem.  I have an inguinal hernia that desparately need to be repaired.  That means cutting me open in an area that is infected by MCV.  Could there be any complications such as a higher risk of a bacterial infection or anything of the sort due to the presence of the virus?  Also, I'm not immunocompromised, but I have had the flu in the past couple of months and my immune system is not as could as it should be.  That could explain the amount of lesions I have on my abdomen (around 30).

[zachc]

I have had molluscum on my lower abdomen and pubic area for about 3 months...with no signs of it letting up. I have been to the dermatologist once where it was frozen, but it did not seem to help.my girlfriend and i have been sexually active throughout this, but she has no symptoms, although i think i got it from her...she shaves, tans, etc. we have also been faithful. i read that 90% of people can have it with no symptoms...is this true? what should i try next to get rid of this viral infection? should i not be sexually active even though she has no symptoms thus far? i have tried puncturing a few of them with a needle and can't really tell if it helps. is there any treatment available over the counter? or should i try to go back to the dermatologist, or just ride it out?


thank you

[zachc]

I have had molluscum on my lower abdomen and pubic area for about 3 months...with no signs of it letting up. I have been to the dermatologist once where it was frozen, but it did not seem to help.my girlfriend and i have been sexually active throughout this, but she has no symptoms, although i think i got it from her...she shaves, tans, etc. we have also been faithful. i read that 90% of people can have it with no symptoms...is this true? what should i try next to get rid of this viral infection? should i not be sexually active even though she has no symptoms thus far? i have tried puncturing a few of them with a needle and can't really tell if it helps. is there any treatment available over the counter? or should i try to go back to the dermatologist, or just ride it out?


thank you