My son is 3 years old has molluscum. It started off as small patches behind his legs and they were skin colored bumps. That was over a year ago. About 3 months ago they started looking more and more irritated and are filled with puss. So this is bothering me really bad. I have read that there are stages for this and when they look like this they are about to go away. Well, they started to clear up and then suddenly he was covered in even more! Now they are all over his legs and his butt and seem to be making their way further upward. I'm worried about this and could use a little advice from parents with experience or knowledge on this pestering problem. HELP!!!
Thank you for your responses! I read some other Q&A's on molluscum and some parents like to use desitin original cream to help with the itching. It's actually helping scab them over but it's only been 2 days so we will see. I also got some cetaphil soap and the fiance and I had a talk about trying to start the whole process of keeping his sheets and tub very clean as well as pajama pants/towels. He's going to see an allergy specialist on Friday so maybe he will have an opinion on the problem but I do plan on going to a pediatric dermatologist. This was very helpful! It's really nice to hear everyone's experiences and know that there are options. THANK YOU!
S.,
My eldest daughter HAD mulluscom last few years ago. We tried many things- creams, beetle juices, and more.. They always came back after a year or so.. I took her to dermtoligist, Dr Stern.. Freeze them off really works!! She doesnt have any molluscom for 3 YEARS!!!
Good Luck!!
I read both of your post and just want to say hang in there Mom. Okay as for the Molluscum- Have you seen a doctor for it? What did they say? My DD had this and it was more of a bothersome b/c it was on her face [not saying your is not that bad]. So when we went to the doctor he was like it will run it's course and also sent me to a dermatologist. I did some researcher and found this product called "Silver Cure" http://www.molluscum.com/?OVRAW=molluscum%20silver%20cure.... We got it [the small package] and it worked so well that it was gone before her dermatologist visit.
For you other post I could only think that you should find out what he is allergic to, so you can better help him.
Good Luck
S.,
Two of my three daughters had molluscum, one fairly widespread over her body and the other only in two patches on her arm. It is a wart-type virus that spreads when the bumps are opened (scratched, picked at, or when they open themselves as they heal) and can be spread by tubs, sharing towels, touching each other, etc.
It does have something to do with immune system strength too, since kids under age 5 get molluscum more often. My daughter (4 at the time) with the widespread case had eczema also, but my oldest (7) did not contract it at all. The baby (2) had a few bumps.
What helped us: bandaids over very large or recently opened spots (I would also smear some neosporin on opened sores so they would not get infected with bacteria), antihistamine creams to curb itching, washing hands a lot (good advice anyway), and time. Keeping the areas dry is important, so perhaps try a drying agent/cream in those moist areas on your son's body.
We consulted our pediatrician and also saw a dermatologist. They offered topical creams for it, but they were quite expensive and didn't promise to resolve the molluscum any faster than waiting for the virus to run its course, which we were told was anywhere from 4 months to 2 years. It took about 12 months for it to get out of our house, and it would come-and-go in stages. None of my children's friends or other family members contracted it.
It is a VERY pestering problem, but do know it will go away! The only reason both my doctors would suggest surgical/laser removal of the warts is if they interfere with the child's functioning or are in sensitive areas- eyes, ears, genitals, etc. Apparently removal is very painful and can leave scars that look worse than if the molluscum heals on its own (neither of my daughters have scars from it!)
Hang in there and good luck with your son's allergies too... he may just grow out of them as well :-)
S., We have had several years experience with molluscum. My first two children had it. My second one is just about to clear up. I learned from my first one that they are extremely contagious and yes when they get red and irritated they are about to go away, however, if they ar filled with puss and they break and your child touches it and touches another part of their body, then they will reappear in that spot. What I have been doing and it is working wonders with getting rid of it is my dr prescribed an antiobotic lotion and when they start getting red then I put the lotion on top and cover it with a bandaid and this keeps the puss from spreading and in my opinion they go away alot faster. Good luck
S.,
My daughter HAD mulluscom last year. I wrote to mamasource and received such great advice! I tried the vinegar trick..nothing happened. However, alot of ladies told me about "beetle juice" at skin doctor. So...I visited Dr. Tricia Brown by Willowbrook - dermatoligist. They gave us two choices - freeze them off (but when she brought the can out my daughter FREAKED!)..so we went with beetle juice. They apply with a Q-tip and you MUST wash it off 1 hr. after application. They bubbled and guess what....THEY ARE GONE!!!!!!!! I was so pleased! It can reoccur, yet now we know what to do. Beetle juice is NOT FDA approved and you should know that...however, my child is fine.
Insurance paid to...I was shocked! Good Luck and do it!
We used duofilm on my son when he had it. He did not have that much coverage, though! Worth a try. It is warts and very contagious (as the name implies).
Take him to Texas Childrens derm MDs. They are familiar with this and are great with kids! Both my kids got this...its contagious...and I took them to see their docs and they froze them. They dry up and pretty much just fall off after a while. They do scab up and will leave a fading mark on the body, but all in all, its better than having to deal with them. I want to say that they need approx 3-4 treatments. I can tell you that although it sounds scary to think they freeze them, its not as scary as it sounds. Good luck!
Sorry, I just read the other responses and I have to tell you from experience, that no matter how much you keep things clean and how much creams (prescribed or not) you will find yourself seeking a dermaologist to control this problem. When I say that it took more than one treatment it is because after one treatment, more would appear, approx three months later, and then those would be taken off, ect. I heave heard of some folks battling with this for years! My kids had this when they were around 4 and 5 and they are now 10 and 12 and there is no sign of the scarring! Trust me!! The slighlty visible scarring...depends on skin color too...is much better to handle than the molluscum themselves! Oh yeah and freezing them off is the same as the beetle juice stuff I read on too. My kids treatment was applied with a Q-tip as well, just not referred to as beetle juice....not sure why that term is used. So, please save yourself from all the headache and just schedule them to see the MD at Tx children's! This is an outpt visit, but done in the office just like a regular appt and covered by insurance...beyond your out of pocket...so save yourself some dollars too!
you need to get him to a dermatologist who can treat them. They spread through touch so they will not go away on their own. I had them as a child and my nieces and nephew also have them - they tend to be hereditary and recurring. Please feel free to email me directly with any other questions. ____@____.com
S.
Have you taken him to a dermo? I had this at one time too and the crazy thing is I got it from a gym. It is not a gentle procedure to get rid of them, but after 3 visits we were rid of them. If you have been dealing with it this long I highly recommend that you get him to a dermostologist as soon as possible.
Both of my children had it. One was 4 and the other was 1 year old. They DO go away. My children both had it on their neck and chin. It looks better untreated if you want my opinion. They tried treating them like a wart on my daughter and the sores looked far worse after. We tried all kinds of creams too prescribed by the doctors. Just let them be, they'll go away within a year or two.
I know this can be worrysome. My son also got them when he was 3. They were on his face around his nose. He only had four at the most. Although, we did not experience puss.
I took him to the doctor who said molluscum is a virus and contagious through touch. She prescribed some creme (forgot the name), but it did nothing to help matters. We just left them alone since they weren't getting worse and one by one they went away. During his Kindergarten year, the last one went away. He is now in 1st grade free and clear.
The pediatric said the treatment is far worse than the molluscum itself and at such a young age, he did not recommend treatment. THEY DO GO AWAY ON THERE OWN!!!!
My son had ant bites on his arm one day this year and the school nurse called me to tell me he had molluscum on his arm. HA! NOT!! The reason I bring this up is....perhaps a second oppinion would be good. Google molluscum to know more about it. Can molluscum have puss? I can only imagine having them behind the knees would stay moist. I wonder if this has any bearing on them spreading?
I hope the best for you and your son.
Blessings!!!
My son had a couple spots over the course of 2 yrs. 2 would show up & 6 mos later be gone, but 2 more would pop up - always around his abdomen, back & chest.
My Pediatrician said NOT to worry about it, but it was driving me crazy not getting it under control.
I eventually asked my own Dermatologist & her main suggestion b/f trying anything topical (which we never needed) was NO BATHS!!!!! My son started taking showers a year ago & has not had any bumps in 6 mos. My Derm said he just keeps re-infecting himself w/ the virus if he sits in the tub unless we disinfect every single day.......so showers b/c easier. He is very happy & I only have to disinfect the tub 2X/week :)
