Molluscum contagiosum causes small pearl-like bumps on the skin that may be mistaken for warts. This common viral infection spreads easily and is especially common in young children. It may also be spread sexually in adults and is more likely to occur in people with suppressed immune systems. The rash can last from a few months to a few years but may eventually resolve on its own.
When treatment is required, oral medications, topical creams or ointments, or removing the lesions can help resolve the bumps faster. An integrative approach incorporates nutrition, supplements, and topical treatments like essential oils to provide anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and/or immune-modulating impacts to help the infection resolve.
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What is Molluscum Contagiosum?
The molluscum contagiosum virus is a type of pox virus that causes small, raised, white, pink, or flesh-colored bumps on the skin. It most commonly occurs in children under 10 but can also occur in adults. In adults, molluscum contagiosum is most commonly spread amongst those with weakened immune systems and/or from sexual activity with an infected partner in adults with a healthy immune system.
This virus is easily contagious and spreads through close personal contact, including sex. It can also be spread through contact with infected objects. When the lesions are scratched, the virus can spread to nearby skin.
In children, molluscum contagiosum most frequently causes bumps on the face, trunk, arms, or legs. When the infection is sexually transmitted in adults, the rash usually occurs on the genitals, lower abdomen, or inner thighs. Without treatment, molluscum contagiosum lesions usually resolve on their own in 6 months to 2 years in those with adequate immune systems.
Molluscum Contagiosum Signs & Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of molluscum contagiosum include:
- Small, raised bumps on the skin that are pearl-like in appearance and often have a dimple or pit in the center known as mollusca
- Lesions may be white, pink to purple, or flesh-colored
- Bumps range in size from a pinhead to a pencil eraser, typically under about 1/4 inch
- Bumps can appear all over the body and are most common on the face, neck, arms, legs, or genitals
- Lesions are commonly in clusters or a linear distribution
- The rash may itch
- Inflammation and redness can occur around the bumps and the skin around them
- Scratched lesions can become infected and result in scarring
- Lesions on the eyelids can spread to the eye and cause pink eye (conjunctivitis)
Molluscum Contagiosum Possible Causes
Molluscum contagiosum virus is a type of pox virus. People with certain conditions are at an increased risk of infection with the molluscum contagiosum virus.
For example, atopic dermatitis involves an abnormal immune response in the skin with a disrupted skin barrier. This makes people with the condition more susceptible to contracting the virus and more likely to experience autoinoculation or spread the virus to areas of nearby skin.
People who are immunocompromised due to HIV/AIDS, organ transplant, or other factors are also more likely to develop molluscum. They may also experience “giant” lesions (≥15 mm in diameter), larger numbers of lesions, and lesions that are more resistant to treatment.
In addition, since the virus that causes molluscum contagiosum spreads easily via contact with an infected person’s skin, contact with objects that have touched lesions (towels, mats, etc.), in swimming pools or hot tubs, or via sexual contact, molluscum is more likely to spread in warm, humid climates and crowded environments like daycare centers.
Functional Medicine Labs to Test for Root Cause of Molluscum Contagiosum
Functional medicine testing can assess factors that impact immunity and an individual’s susceptibility to viruses like molluscum contagiosum.
Immune System Status
The body requires a proper immune response to clear viruses like molluscum contagiosum. The status of the immune system’s functioning can be evaluated with the Lymphocyte MAP test by Cyrex Laboratories. Evaluating these markers can be particularly useful to those with recurrent or chronic molluscum as they can monitor the impact of interventions like dietary changes or supplements.
Micronutrient Testing
A Micronutrient Panel assesses the levels of 40 different vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, and other markers that impact your immune system’s function and response to infections like molluscum contagiosum. Many different vitamins and minerals, such as zinc, are required for a proper immune response to clear viruses like molluscum contagiosum.
Conventional Treatment for Molluscum Contagiosum
Since molluscum contagiosum usually resolves on its own, treatment is not always needed. If treatment is required due to a weakened immune system or painful lesions, several options are available.
The visible lesions may be removed by a dermatologist using cryotherapy (freezing), curettage (scraping off the bump), or laser therapy. Topical treatments can also be applied to the lesions to help them resolve. These include retinoic acid, podophyllum, potassium hydroxide, benzoyl peroxide, and tretinoin which cause irritation, or cantharidin, which induces blistering that lifts off the bumps.
A less painful and less invasive option for treatment, especially in children, is the oral medication cimetidine. This is taken over time for painless, gradual resolution of lesions.
Functional Medicine Treatment for Molluscum Contagiosum
Since conventional therapies may sometimes be ineffective or undesirable due to pain or scarring, an integrative approach to treating molluscum contagiosum includes integrative treatment options like dietary changes and supplementation when appropriate.
Nutrition for Molluscum Contagiosum
An anti-inflammatory diet rich in antioxidants can help support the immune system so that it can properly clear viruses like molluscum contagiosum. Eating plenty of foods rich in vitamins such as A, D, E, and C, minerals, zinc, selenium, iron, and chromium, polyphenols and flavonoids, and omega-3 fatty acids can provide antiviral activity and increase the effectiveness of your immune response.
Incorporating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables can help provide these nutrients. For example, apricots, bell peppers, leafy greens, broccoli, red cabbage, carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato, and tomatoes are rich in vitamins A and C, while wheat germ, avocado, and pumpkin seeds are good sources of vitamin E. Fatty fish like salmon provides vitamin D as well as omega-3 fatty acids. A Mediterranean-style diet is one way of eating that focuses on these nutrient-rich foods.
Supplements & Herbs for Molluscum Contagiosum
In addition to dietary approaches, supplements, and herbs can help rebalance the immune system and inflammation levels to help the body clear the molluscum contagiosum virus.
Zinc
Zinc is an important micronutrient required for proper immune function and for clearing viruses from the body. A study showed that oral zinc sulfate treatment for two months could increase zinc levels in the body and help with the clearance of molluscum.
Backhousia citriodora (lemon myrtle) essential oil
Essential oil from lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-proliferative properties. A three-week randomized controlled trial showed a significant reduction or clearance of molluscum lesions in children when lemon myrtle essential oil was applied topically once a day.
Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea tree oil)
Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil can also be applied topically to treat molluscum. A four-week randomized controlled trial showed that topical application of tea tree essential oil alone or in combination with organically bound iodine resulted in complete clearance or reduction in lesions by at least 90% in 84.2% of children treated with the combination and 16.7% of children treated with tea tree oil alone (P<0.01) when applied twice a day.
Complementary and Integrative Medicine for Molluscum Contagiosum
An integrative approach to molluscum contagiosum utilizes complementary healing modalities like heat therapy and topical apple cider vinegar to heal lesions and help the body repair the skin.
Heat Therapy
Targeted heat therapy using a hyperthermic device that creates pinpointed radiofrequency-generated heat is also used to treat molluscum. Heat seems to inactivate or slow the spread of viruses to adjacent skin by upregulating certain antiviral proteins and cytokines and/or helping the skin’s natural repair process.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar can be applied to intact, unscratched molluscum lesions once a day by soaking a piece of cotton in vinegar and placing it on top of the bump with a bandage or by taking a bath for around 10 minutes in a bathtub of water with a cup of apple cider vinegar.
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Summary
Molluscum contagiosum is a viral infection with a pox virus that causes raised pearly bumps that can appear alone, in clusters, or along linear streaks. It is common in children and spreads easily via skin-to-skin contact, contaminated objects, or surfaces. It can also be spread sexually in adults.
In people with strong immune systems, molluscum usually clears on its own after several months or years. A dermatologist may treat the bumps to speed clearance using oral medications, cryotherapy topical irritants, scrapping, or laser therapy.
Since these treatments can cause pain or be ineffective, an integrative approach utilizes treatments to boost the body’s immune function and reduce lesions. Topical treatment with essential oils like lemon myrtle and tea tree or heat therapy can help clear molluscum bumps.
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