Molluscum question

[Shagrath]

Hello,

About 10 weeks ago I noticed a small cluster of white bumps on my pubic area, above the penis.  Also I noticed a slight dull pain in the end of my urethra.  This occurred during a relationship in which I was having unprotected sex with a girl whose since been tested and came back clean.  A trip to the doctor diagnosed it as an allergic reaction to a belt that I had been wearing and prescribed some Triamcinolone Acetonide (I was also swabbed for STD's, came back neg, urine test for UTI, also neg). I tossed the belt and used this cream for two weeks with no improvement.  In fact, the bumps had actually enlarged and spread slightly upward.  I had no itching or irritation, just this unsightly rash, so I figured I'd let it be and hope it would go away.  Now, ten weeks later the "rash" has spread so that it covers most of the area between my belly button and my pubic region, and the bumps are quite red and much larger at about 2mm across.  They are especially irritated at the beltline.  Still, no pain and very mild itching in the morning and after a shower.  The dull pain in the tip of my penis is still there, no worse/better.  I went to the doctor last week who said I had what looks like molluscum.  He indicated that it should go away on its own, but that it could take many months.  He prescribed some Spectracef in case of an underlying infection and recommended I see a Dermatologist if no improvement.  I made an appointment to see a Dermatologist in about ten days in hopes of some treatment to make these things go away sooner.  The questions I am left with before I see the Dr are, what can be done about such a large area?  I would say there are at least 100 bumps now, maybe more.  And they seem to keep spreading slowly.  Would there be any confusion between molluscum and HPV?  I've heard of people getting HPV warts on their lower abdomen.  Most of the bumps I have are very red with a whitish center, some with a "crater".  Finally, the dull pain at the tip of my urethra?  I have spread the meatus and found it to be a purple/reddish color in there...I don't know if that is normal since it's not something you check out everyday.  No discharge, pain while voiding, etc.  Just very mild pain while sitting there.  Maybe I've been irritating it messing with it like that.  Anyway, does what I describe sound like molluscum?  I'm afraid it's going to consume my whole body if I don't do something about it soon!  Thanks for your time...sorry about the long post!

[aworriedfella]

I too have been diagnosed with Molluscum, and I have the same odd pain at the tip of my penis as well.  It does not hurt when I urinate, or ejaculate, but it can swell a small amount and often seems to have a dull pain.  I have pointed it out to various doctors, but they all say not to worry about it, and dismiss the symptoms immediately.  Sometimes, there seems to be a small whitish bump where the pain persists, but there is only one bump, and I have never seen it "pop", nor has it ever scabbed over.  If you find out what the pain is from, please let me know.  Good luck.

[ozark]

you may have pityriosis(sp) rosacea...its a skin rash possibly viral...it usually gets worse before it gets better...takes about 4-6 weeks

[Kaylyn]

Molluscum is considered to be a type of VD.  Most adults get it from sexual contact and young adults/ teens can get it from contact from for instance wrestling contact sports.  My children had it years ago ( never found out HOW they got it ) and the dermatologist that I finally found that would treat them said we had to burn them off with liquid nitrogen to make them go away.  This was very painful for young children so, I found a child derm doctor gave me strong Retin-A to put on the area to thin the skin of the area.  Then as the skin was thinned the small white balls ( which are the little molluscum bumps themselves which live under your skin) were removed with tweezers.  Time consuming yes but less painful than liquid nitrogen.  IF YOU have molluscum please contact a dermatologist that knows what it is first!!  Ask them on the phone if they have ever even seen it!!  I went thru many doctors poking at my childrens backsides trying to figure out what it was before I found a dermatologist that actually knew what it was!!  It is very rare.  It spreads quickly but usually stays in the crotch area.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

It does not sound like molluscum, and it certainly doesn't sound like HPV.  Perhaps these are blocked follicles.  Since you are taking Spectracef, you needn't worry about bacterial infection.  As for the pain at the penis tip, I can't think of any connection with the rash, other than worry over what it is.  I recommend that you wash gently, apply bacitracin once a day, and see the dermatologist as scheduled in 10 days.  If it is molluscum, the doctor can treat it--you don't have to wait all those months for it to go away on its own.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff