skin rash

[busracer]

My son is twenty years old and has been being treated for a rash in his pelvic area.  The physicians assistant that is treating him is not very good at explaining what this is.  She is using a freezing method of treatment with no medication to go along with this.  Because he is 20 he goes in by himself and can't remember the terminology.  The freezing treatment is not working, but she is telling him that it may take up to a year of continued treatment of this nature to completely make it go away.  Any ideas, also not saying if it is contagious.  Could this be a chlamydia rash and if it is doesn't he need antibiotics?

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi

Freezing method is used to treat warts and molluscum .Both these skin conditions are caused by viruses: HPV for warts and pox virus for molluscum. Cryotherapy is achieved by applying liquid nitrogen to the affected skin. The process may hurt and excoriations and scarring may be noted. This seems to be the therapy of choice for treating molluscum infections. Common warts and flat warts may also be treated similarly with this freezing technique. I suggest that you discuss this with your son' physician so you may be guided properly in terms of other treatment options or treatment outcomes.