Molluscum Contagiosum (Water Warts); Causes, Symptoms, Prevention & Treatment Options

Complications

The lesions caused by the molluscum are benign and heal without leaving a scar. However, scratching or scooping the lesions can form scars on your skin. So, scraping or removing the lesions is not recommended.

Opportunistic bacterial infections on previously damaged skin are a major hazard as well. For those with immune conditions like HIV/AIDS, this could be very problematic. Treatment in these situations is modified in accordance with the infections.

References

1. Banyameen IM, Atul JK, Tushar KJ. Molluscum Contagiosum. Medical Journal of Dr DY Patil University. 2017;8(1):54-56. doi:10.4103/0975-2870.148846
2. Leung AKC, Barankin B, Hon KLE. Molluscum Contagiosum: An Update. Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery. 2017;11(1). doi:10.2174/1872213X11666170518114456
3. Meza-Romero R, Navarrete-Dechent C, Downey C. Molluscum contagiosum: an update and review of new perspectives in etiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. 2019;12:373. doi:10.2147/CCID.S187224
4. Forbat E, Al-Niaimi F, Ali FR. Molluscum Contagiosum: Review and Update on Management. Pediatric Dermatology. 2017;34(5):504-515. doi:10.1111/PDE.13228
5. Robinson G, Townsend S, Jahnke MN. Molluscum Contagiosum: Review and Update on Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, Risk, Prevention, and Treatment. Current Dermatology Reports 2020 9:1. 2020;9(1):83-92. doi:10.1007/S13671-020-00289-Z
6. Molluscum Contagiosum | Poxvirus | CDC. Accessed January 26, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/molluscum-contagiosum/index.html
7. Prevention | Molluscum Contagiosum | Pox viruses | CDC. Accessed January 26, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/molluscum-contagiosum/prevention.html
8. Long Term Effects | Molluscum Contagiosum | Pox viruses | CDC. Accessed January 26, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/molluscum-contagiosum/long-term-effects.html