What is Molluscum Contagiosum?
Molluscum contagiosum is caused by a virus (the molluscum contagiosum virus) that is from the poxvirus family. The virus is contagious through direct contact and is more common in children. However, the virus also can be spread by sexual contact. Molluscum Contagiosum is a very common skin infection that can spread easily from one person to another. The infection mostly affects children under the age of 15 years. It can be identified by the formation of round, firm, painless papules on the skin without itching.
Symptoms
Small, firm, flesh-colored, dome-shaped, pearly white papules on the skin are seen after months of exposure to the virus.
Causes
- Direct contact with contaminated articles, like towels, clothes and affected person
- Sexual contact with a person affected by the infection
- Skin-to-skin contact
- Scratching the skin lesions which spreads the virus to the nearby skin
Prevention
In order to prevent the virus from the spread
- To help prevent the spread of the virus:
- Wash your hands with soap and water; keep your hands clean, which will further prevent the spread of the virus.
- Avoid touching the skin lesions and avoid Shaving over the infected areas.
- Don’t share towels and clothing and personal belongings like razor
- Avoid sexual contact with an infected person
- At-home treatments for molluscum contagiosum
- Tea tree oil
- Australian lemon myrtle.
- Coconut oil.
