Does Molluscum Go Away On Its Own?

Yes, molluscum contagiosum (MC) goes away on its own without any treatment. Molluscum contagiosum is a self-limiting viral infection commonly seen in infant and in children less than 10 years old. It usually goes away on its own, but sometimes it can cause complications and recovery will take time.

Molluscum contagiosum goes away without any treatment generally. It will take about 6-12 months for all the lesions to clear up. It is believed that until the last lesion disappears it can be contagious. Also, if it spreads to majority of the body then recovery might take about 18 months or more.

A randomized controlled study done on patients with molluscum contagiosum without any immunodeficiency showed that none of the interventions are effective in treating molluscum contagiosum. It usually resolves on its own in people without any immunodeficiency. The scientific basis of treatment is unclear and doctors are not sure if treatment should be carried out or not. Treatment can also lead to severe scarring. However, due to social and cosmetic reasons and also to prevent the infection transmitting to other body areas and to other people, treatment can be initiated.

After the disappearance of the lesion the molluscum virus is completely gone from your body. If you get the molluscum virus again then you will get the lesions again in your body.

The virus spreads through:

• Direct close contact with an infected person – touching the lesions of an infected person.
• Using contaminated objects – using personal items such as towels, clothes, flannels and toys of an infected person.
• Sexual contact – sexual intercourse and other intimate sexual contact with a person with the disease.
• Auto-inoculation – transmits to other sites by scratching or shaving

The transmission occurs more in wet conditions for e.g. when a child with the disease have a bathe or swim with other children. The incubation period is roughly about 2 weeks, but sometimes symptoms might not appear until 6 months. After the lesion appear it’s contagious and it can spread to other areas in your body and can spread to other people from the above-mentioned ways.

Molluscum contagiosum appears as clusters of small round lesions (papules), varying in size from 1 to 6 mm and can be white, brown or pink in color. These lesions have a waxy, shiny look and contains a central pit which has a cheesy material in it.

There can be few or hundreds of lesions in one person and these are seen more in warm moist areas such as armpits, groin, in genital areas and behind the knees. The lesion can occur in lips and inside the oral cavity rarely, but it can occur in the face. These lesion does not occur in the palms and soles.

When molluscum contagiosum lesions are auto inoculated by scratching the lesion are formed in a row. Molluscum contagiosum lesions most of the time induce a dermatitis around the lesion, which becomes itchy, pink and dry. As the lesion resolve these become inflamed, crusted or scabby may be for a week or two.

Yes, molluscum contagiosum (MC) goes away on its own without any treatment. It will take about 6-12 months for all the lesions to clear up. It is believed that until the last lesion disappears it can be contagious. Also, if it spreads to majority of the body then recovery might take about 18 months or more. A randomized controlled study done on patients with molluscum contagiosum without any immunodeficiency showed that none of the interventions are effective in treating molluscum contagiosum. It usually resolves on its own in people without any immunodeficiency. Treatment can be initiated for social and cosmetic reasons and also to prevent the infection transmitting to other body areas and to other people.

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Also Read:

• Molluscum Contagiosum (MC): Causes, Risk Factors, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention
• Can Adults Get Molluscum From Child & How To Stop Molluscum Contagiosum From Spreading?
• Alternative Treatment For Molluscum Contagiosum
• Can Molluscum Contagiosum Be Cured?
• How Long Does Molluscum Contagiosum Last?
• Is Molluscum Contagiosum The Same As HPV?
• What Causes You To Have Molluscum Contagiosum?