Last winter I noticed what I thought was a little skin tag under my daughter’s arm, close to her armpit. Then, I noticed another nearby the first. Not too concerned, I casually mentioned it to our family doctor at a routine visit and he immediately diagnosed them as Molloscum Contagiosum.
(Photo credit: www.scienceblogs.com)
I had never heard of that before, but it turns out it’s a viral infection that causes wart-like bumps to crop up, which can last for 6-12 months. It also turns out it’s highly contagious.
Information that would have been useful to me YESTERDAY, as I smack my palm to my head in realizing all the times I bathed our girls together, had them share towels, etc.
My daughter’s case of Molloscum Contagiosum has become rather bothersome. She now has about 12 of the bumps, and some have reached their last stage wherein they turn red and blister. It’s really gross. She hasn’t been too worried about them, and I have taken her to see three doctors regarding possible treatment (mainly to stop them from spreading) but they all insist the best thing is to just let it run its course since the bumps are resistant to traditional wart treatments.
Since having to deal with this, I have heard from SO many other moms whose kids have had it, but I had never known about it until now. (Kind of like how they don’t tell you what your boobs will look like once you’re done breast-feeding.) (They look really bad, in case you’re wondering.) (Kind of like two fried eggs, hanging sadly.)
Have you had a run-in with Molloscum Contagiosum? Did your doctors recommend burning or cutting the bumps off? Or did you just let them sprout in peace and wait it out?
Apple cider vinegar and beetle juice – my friend’s daughters both got it and the dermatologist used beetle juice and it cleared up
Eww. Never heard of them. We had pinworms this summer – super gross – but easy to deal with. I hope someone chimes in with a treatment!
Both my kids had this pretty bad too. And instead of going for the doctor perscribed Steriod cream, I opted for the Apple Cider Vinegaro. Like DLM mentioned above, dip cottonballs in vinegar and tape to the bump overnight. I did this for each bump for a week straight and it worked like magic for me. It cleared up about 90% of the bumps which is a huge improvement. We are just waiting out the last few to go away on their own.
My son had them on his chin. Started off like a little rash, and then spread. He got pretty paranoid about it but they weren’t hideous – just small fleshy coloured bumps. Uncommon on the face, more common on knees, elbows – places where the skin gets rubbed a lot. No one else is the house got them (so the highly contagious part is kind of a bust lol – wondering if they are only contagious at certain points of their life cycle?). I had never heard of it before then, but the doctor assured me it would go away on it’s own – and it did. Don’t fuss about it, and don’t make a big deal about it – it’s simply a rash, and it will heal.
Ick! Oh well, just be glad it’s not head lice…. or scabies. I don’t think I could handle scabies! And I know if *I* ever get lice again, the hair is gone. All of it.
Back to mollus-term I’ve never heard before either. I have not had experiences with it, but I would strongly recommend trying tea tree oil (as a PP mentioned) – we’ve had it resolve all sorts of unusual issues we never would have expected (cold sores, a toenail that turned black for like 10 years, all sorts of infections, etc.), so it’s definitely worth a shot (you can get a good quality bottle cheap at Costco).
Also, DH and his mother would want me to say this but I want to tell you as a disclaimer that it is TOTALLY an old wives tale, but they cut a potatoe in half and rubbed it on all his warts… he used to get tons of them when he was a kid (maybe it was this…?) and he SWEARS after they did that, he never got one again. Now I’m not 100% certain that did it, but it would only cost you on potatoe – if I had wart mania I’d totally try it.
Finally, I put a vote towards putting a swab/pad and taping it down on all of them. I don’t know if it will get rid of them, but if they are that contagious, it should at least bring the amount of contagion down a little since they are no longer coming into contact with her skin at any point. Certainly no harm in putting apple cider vinegar and a drop or two of tea tree oil on the swab and seeing what happens 🙂
My daughter had three on her neck, near her hairline. She would scratch them without realizing and 2 of them got seriously infected. She was on a pretty strong antibiotic for over a week. My older son, who’s 5, has had 2 on his arm for almost 2 years! If there’s a way to get rid of them, I will try it!
Glad you shared this…I had never heard of it before.
Eva’s little buddy has them on and around her knees. Her mom texted me telling me that they were called moscollums. The dr treated each bump with something (not sure what) and said that should clear it up.
Cuyler had a plantar on his palm and they used liquid nitrogen to treat it. That wasn’t fun at all. But the wart was gone in a week.
Hi Leanne my daughter who is also 1.5 years has also got molluscom with is mainly on her neck and spreading I have been to 3 doctors and health visitor and try have all told me there is no treatment and to let them run there course ! She has had them a good six month and to be honest they r getting worse not better , she is not aware of them obviously because of her age but they really bother me and the other parents are starting to notice them and ask questions ! What cream did you get prescribed ?
my daughter had this when she was 1.5 years old but the doctor gave us a cream that you put on it and in about 3 days they shrivel up and fall off kinda yucky but much better then blisters 🙁
Yup. We had them—all three kids.
I cleared my babies molluscum up with organic apple cider vinegar. Put it on a pad and use bandage tape to cover the bumps up. Leave over night each night for a week. They should be dried up and skin will be healing. Worked beautifully for us!
Eeeeewww!! Yes– this was the year for that in my house. So gross. Started with the oldest son and I too thought it was just a mole or two. Doc said let them run their course or, get this, encourage him to pick them off ! He is 13 so this intrigued him and he went for it and they were gone on a couple of weeks. No scars. But… Suddenly my 5 year old got them and they were all over his torso. He was so embarrassed to swim etc.
Here is our cure– I went to my naturopath/pharmacist and he recommended tea tree oil. Twice a day on the grossums. I put it on morning and night. They were gone in a few weeks instead of six months and he is so happy since thy went away just before a family beach vacation. I bought the cream based oil rather than drops because it is less messy and sticks to the spots. (Tea Tree ointment by Thursday Plantation). The cream irritates the bumps and the skin around them a bit so your body then attacks the bumps. Or so I was told. Anyway. It worked!
Good luck!
Both my girls had them. They wouldn’t go away and kept getting bigger. I took them to a Dermatologist and had them “paint” them with something akin to Compound W and they disappeared with a week.
Here’s an admission for you! I HAD THEM. Mine didn’t last as long (maybe in adults it’s not as long?) dunno. Unpleasant. I’m so happy that’s not her in the picture!
I have never heard of this, but just about a week ago a white bump appeared on my 5 yo’s cheek. Not sure if this is the same thing, no other bumps to speak of on any if the other kids though so maybe it’s something else. Good luck with this. It must be annoying.
I’m glad you share real things like bumps and how breasts look after the life has been sucked out of them. Way to keep it real.