Molescum is a skin disease caused by a double-stranded DNA poxvirus named Molluscum Contagiosum virus.
It produces benign skin lesions which are pinkish-purple raised bumps on the upper layer of skin.
The smaller bumps are usually painless. They recover on their own and do not leave scars.
The skin lesion can remain on the skin for two months to four years.
Molescum spreads by direct contact with the infected person or by using contaminated towels or clothes.
In weak immunity people, Molescum can be difficult to treat.
The course of the disease varies from person to person.
Molescum Types
Molescum is caused by Molluscum Contagiosum which is a double stranded DNA poxvirus.
Four subtypes of the Molluscum Contagiosum virus are known which cause molescum.
1.MCV-1
This subtype of the virus causes 98 percent of the total cases.
They especially cause disease in the children.
2.MCV-2
This subtype of molescum-causing virus causes the disease in people having HIV.
3.MCV-3
This subtype of the Molluscum Contgiosum virus is found in Asia and Australis.
4.MCV-4
MCV-4 is found in the regions of Asia and Australia.
Molescum Causes
Molescum is mainly caused by its causative poxvirus i.e., Molluscum Contagiosum virus.
The virus has four subtypes. Molescum is caused by direct skin-to-skin contact with the infected person.
Direct contact:
It can be spread through sexual activity with the person having a molescum infection.
Sharing items:
Using the belongings of the infected person such as clothes, towels, razors, toys etc.
From Mother to child:
Molecum can be spread from mother to child during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
This causes molescum infection in the early ages of life.
Internal spread:
The infection can spread in the body by using the same razors, touching or scratching in the affected area and healthy areas.
Molescum Symptoms
Symptoms of molescum may be unnoticeable for six months.
It usually takes two to seven weeks for the symptoms to develop after getting infected by the Molluscum Contagiosum virus.
First, a small group of painless lesions start to develop.
These small raised bumps may appear single or can be seen in a group of 20 or more.
The lesions are very small, shiny and smooth in appearance.
The colour can be flesh-coloured, pink or white.
The shape can be firm, dome-shaped or a bump with a dimple in the middle.
The centre part is filled with a waxy material.
The size can be 2 to 5 mm in diameter.
It can be as small as the head of a pin, or as large as the size of an eraser on the back of a pencil.
The lesion can develop on the face, abdomen, torso, arms, legs, inner thighs and genitals.
Molescum lesions are generally not found on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Risk Factors for Molescum
Anyone can get infected with molescum but certain risk factors make people more prone to get this infection.
Let’s discuss the risk factors one by one in detail.
Age:
Children between 1 to 10 years of age are at higher risk.
They can get the infection from the mother during pregnancy or during breastfeeding.
The immunity of the children is low as compared to adults therefore they can easily get affected by molescum.
Habitat:
People who live in a tropical climate are more prone to get affected by molescum.
Weak immunity:
People with a weak immune system such as those who have HIV, organ transplantation, cancer treatment etc.
A weak immunity provides a good environment for the Molluscum Contagiosum virus to thrive and spread in the body.
Certain diseases:
People suffering from atopic dermatitis (a skin disease that causes scaly, itchy rashes) can easily get affected with molescum.
Contact sports:
People who participate in sports such as wrestling and football where skin-to-skin contact is present.
getting in direct contact with the infected person or the surfaces that might contain the molescum-causing virus put the person at higher risk of developing the disease.
Diagnosis
The skin lesions caused by molescum are very distinct in appearance, the doctor may make the diagnosis based on the appearance of the lesions.
A physical examination of the affected area can be done by the doctor to make the diagnosis.
A biopsy or a skin scratch test can be advised to confirm the diagnosis.
Any skin lesion that is presently more than a few days should be examined by the doctor.
The confirmation of the diagnosis of molescum will help to rule out other possibly similar lesion-causing diseases,
such as chickenpox, skin cancer, warts etc.
Molescum Management
There are a few tips and tricks that must be followed to get fast recovery and improve the quality of life.
Avoid touching people and their belongings such as towels, razors, and clothes.
Always wash hands with lukewarm water and soap.
Good hygiene practice can help the spreading of infection to other people as well as the patient himself.
Avoid sharing sports equipment with bare hands and feet.
Keep the affected area clean and dry.
Keep the affected area covered to avoid touching them and scratching them.
Avoid shaving the affected area.
Avoid sexual contact and activities to stop the spread of the disease.
Best Homeopathic Medicines for Molescum
Homeopathy is a safe, gentle and effective mode of treatment for skin diseases.
It helps the disease to recover from its root cause.
Homeopathy doesn’t have any side effects and it is very gentle to be used in people of any age and sex.
Children, newborns, and toddlers can be given homeopathy remedies to annihilate the disease.
There are several wonderful and beneficial remedies in homeopathy for the treatment of molescum.
When the symptoms physically and mentally of the patient match with the symptoms of the medicines then that particular homeopathic remedy can cure the case.
Let’s take a look at the top indicated medicines for the treatment of molescum in homeopathy, one by one in detail.
1. MERC SOL: For molescum with constant moist skin
Symptoms:
Merc Sol is a wonderful and leading homeopathic remedy capable of curing skin affections.
It helps the patient who suffers from molescum and has constant moist skin.
The affected area is almost constantly moist.
Persistent dryness of the skin contraindicates the use of Merc Sol for the treatment of molescum.
The skin of the patient is excessive odorous with viscid perspiration that is worse at the night.
There is a general tendency to free perspiration but the patient is not relieved by it.
There are vesicular and pustular eruptions in the affected area.
The lesions can be irregular in shape with undefined edges. There are groups of little bumps formed together.
The patient experiences itching and get worse with the warmth of the bed.
The lesion can be flesh-coloured, pink or purple. Pus formation can also take place.
Merc Sol is also helpful for molescum affecting genital organs.
Potency and dosage:
Merc Sol 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Merc Sol 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Merc Sol in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
2. NATRUM MUR: For molescum with dry eruptions
Symptoms:
Natrum Mur is one of the great remedies in homeopathy for the treatment of molescum.
It can effectively reduce the symptoms and helps in the fast recovery of the patient.
The skin of the patient is greasy and oily, especially on the hairy parts.
The eruptions appear on the scalp margins and bends of the joints.
The bumps itch and burn. The lesions appear on bends of limbs, margins of the scalp and behind the ears.
The lesions are raw, red and inflamed. The symptoms get worse on eating salt and at the seashore.
Hair follicles get affected by the disease. There is itching after exertion.
The bumps of molescum can be found single or in groups of 20 or more.
Potency and dosage:
Natrum Mur 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Natrum Mur 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Natrum Mur in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
3. Silicea: For molescum with pus formation
Symptoms:
Silicea is a great healing agent in homeopathy for a variety of ailments including skin diseases.
When the symptoms match, Silicea can cure the case effectively.
Silicea is a helpful remedy for the treatment of molescum with pus formation.
The skin of the patient is delicate, pale and waxy. There are cracks at the end of the fingers.
The lesions are rose-coloured. The affected area suddenly becomes painful.
There is a formation of offensive pus in the bumps caused by molescum.
The patient complains that every little injury suppurates.
The affected area only itches in the evening and during the daytime.
Joints are affected. The lesions are small, shiny and smooth in appearance.
Potency and dosage:
Silicea 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Silicea 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Silicea in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
4. SULPHUR: For molescum with itching and burning eruptions
Symptoms:
Sulphur is a skin leader medicine in homeopathy. It is a very well-known and popular remedy for the treatment of skin affections.
It is helpful for the treatment of molescum cases where the lesions itch and burn.
The skin of the patient is dry, scaly and unhealthy. The lesions are easily suppurated.
The itching and burning in the affected area get worse on scratching and washing.
The lesions can be found especially in skin folds. The affected area is intolerably itching due to warmth.
The symptoms are worse during spring weather and in a damp environment.
The bumps are 2 to 5mm in diameter. They are small, smooth raised bumps filled with a waxy material.
Potency and dosage:
Sulphur 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Sulphur 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Sulphur in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
5. KALI IOD: For molescum with purple-coloured lesions
Symptoms:
Kali Iod is another wonderful healing agent for the treatment of molescum in homeopathy.
It can help to improve the quality of life and cure the case of molescum when the symptoms match.
The lesions are small, shiny, smooth and purple in colour.
The lesions can be found on the legs. The symptoms get worse on the covering the affected part.
The patient complains of the intense heat of the body.
Kali Iod is helpful to treat molescum in sad, anxious and harsh people.
The symptoms of the Kali Iod patient get worse by wearing warm clothes, going into a warm room, at night and in the damp weather.
The patient feels better in the open air.
Potency and dosage:
Kali Iod 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Kali Iod 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Kali Iod in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
6. THUJA OCCIDENTALIS: For molescum affecting covered parts of the body
Symptoms:
Thuja is a very well-known homeopathic remedy for the treatment of molescum patients.
It is helpful for patients who suffer from molescum affecting the covered parts of the body.
Thuja can effectively treat the molescum lesions occurring on the genital organs.
The perspiration is sweetish and strong. The patient is having dry skin with brown spots.
The symptoms get worse after scratching. The affected area is very sensitive to touch.
The lesions are small, 2 to 5mm in diameter. They are shiny and smooth in appearance.
When the symptoms match, Thuja can completely cure the case.
Potency and dosage:
Thuja 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Thuja 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Thuja in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
7. NATRUM SULPH: For molescum worse in damp weather
Symptoms:
Natrum sulph is a very good remedy for the treatment of molescum that get worse in damp weather.
One of the characteristic features of the Natrum Sulph patient is that there is itching in the affected area especially while undressing.
The eruptions cover all over the body. The lesions are small, shiny, wart-like, and smooth in appearance.
They can be itchy and uncomfortable.
The suffering gets worse in the damp weather, by living in a damp basement. Dry weather makes the symptoms better.
When these symptoms are found, Natrum Sulph is the most suitable remedy.
Potency and dosage:
Natrum Sulph 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Natrum Sulph 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Natrum Sulph in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
8. HEPAR SULPH: For molescum with great sensitiveness to the slightest touch
Symptoms:
Hepar Sulph is a very beneficial remedy for patients of molescum whose affected areas are extremely sensitive to the slightest touch.
The skin is unhealthy. The patient cannot bear to be uncovered.
The lesions are suppurated easily. The lesions smell like old cheese.
There is burning, stinging, easy bleeding and sensitivity in the affected area.
There are sticking and picking pains in the skin. The bumps can be found in groups.
There is constant offensive exhalation from the body.
Potency and dosage:
Hepar Sulph 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Hepar Sulph 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Hepar Sulph in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
9. BROMIUM: For molescum in children with weak immunity
Symptoms:
Bromium is a useful remedy o treat molescum in children who suffer from enlarged glands and weak immunity.
The molescum lesions can be found single or in groups.
They can be found on the face, neck, arms and abdomen.
The patient is extremely quarrelsome. There is excoriating discharge and profuse sweat.
The patient complains of great weakness. When these symptoms match, Bromium should be given.
Potency and dosage:
Bromium 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Bromium 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Bromium in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
10. CAUSTICUM: For molescum with burning, rawness and soreness
Symptoms:
Causticum is a wonderful healing agent for the treatment of molescum where burning, rawness and soreness are present.
The lesions can be found on the fold of the skin, behind ears and between thighs.
The lesions are large and easily bleeding. There are small, shiny pearl-like bumps on the nose.
Causticum should be given when the above symptoms match and it can effectively cure the case.
Potency and dosage:
Causticum 1M can be taken as four pills or drops once a week till improvement occurs. Causticum 200CH can be taken as four pills or drops once daily till improvement occurs.
Causticum in 30CH can be taken as four pills or drops twice daily till improvement occurs.
Remember that homeopathic remedies should be prescribed based on individual symptoms and characteristics. It’s crucial to consult with a qualified homeopath for proper evaluation and personalized treatment. Homeopathy focuses on treating the whole person, so a detailed case study is necessary to select the most appropriate remedy.
Homeopathic medicines should be taken only when prescribed by a homeopathic physician. Self-medication may aggravate the original conditions.