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Molluscum Contagiosum
Molluscum contagiosum is a viral skin infection that is common in young children and can affect adults too. Although not
a serious infection, in some cases it can take up to 5 years to clear and the presence of the lesions can cause distress
both to the sufferer and parents. Molluscum contagiosum spots are small, raised spots and may be pink, pearly white or
skin coloured often with a central white ‘core’. They often appear in clusters on the legs, arms, arm pits, face, and
neck and occasionally on the chest and stomach.
The white core of the spot contains the virus and is highly infectious, thus the infection can be spread to other areas of skin
by scratching or squeezing. It is also easily spread from person to person by contact, or sharing contaminated objects
such as towels and flannels.
Molluscum contagiosum can aggravate patches of eczema, leading to great discomfort and itching, which can then further
spread the infection to other areas of skin.
Generally GPs do not treat molluscum contagiosum spots. Occasionally steroid creams are prescribed and in some cases
they remove the mollusca by burning or freezing them off, but there is an increased risk of scarring with these procedures.
At Hydes we use herbs with anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and skin healing properties to help clear the molluscum
contagiosum virus, reduce inflammation, heal the lesions and reduce the likelihood of scarring. This will also reduce
the likelihood of the infection spreading to other parts of the body. In cases of molluscum contagiosum in eczema
sufferers, we will also treat the eczema with herbs to help reduce inflammation and itch, to heal the patches of eczema
and improve the general condition of the skin.
At Hydes in over 102 years of practise we have successfully treated many cases of molluscum contagiosum, often in as
little as 4 weeks.
Case Study
10 year old girl came to Hydes having suffered from molluscum contagiosum for 10 months. The spots were in large
clusters at the top of her thighs and on the underside of her arms and armpits. Her GP had prescribed steroid creams
but these had had no effect. The girl felt self conscious about the molluscum spots and both she and her mother were
worried about scarring.
After a full consultation at Hydes we prescribed a 4 week prescription of liquid medicine to take twice daily and a
lotion to apply to the lesions morning and night. By her appointment 4 weeks later the molluscum spots had gone.
The patient was prescribed a further supply of medicine to ensure the virus had completely cleared and to continue
to help the skin heal. At this point the lotion was replaced by a skin healing cream. Her skin returned to normal.
To find out more about how we can help you, your friends and family, or to book an appointment, please call us on
0116 2543178. See how we can help you with your molluscum contagiosum, any skin condition, or any other health
concerns and the use of Herbal Medicine. Our Herbalists would be pleased to speak with you for free on 0116 254 3178.
We have clinics in Leicester and Derbyshire.
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