Molluscum Contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is a common viral rash in kids. It can be identified by the classic umbilicated papules (aka concave bumps) it produces. Caused by a poxvirus, it’s a harmless condition but can be a nuisance. Molluscum loves to pop up in eczema-prone skin. It is contagious as the name implies, but no need to keep kids home from school or daycare, just cover the affected areas.

There’s no specific antiviral, so treatment is aimed at irritating the skin to get the immune system involved to fight off the virus. Dermatologists treat in the office in a number of ways, commonly cryotherapy or cantharidine. These treatments can cause blisters (that’s the goal, to generate an immune response) and I’ve found most kids don’t want anything to do with them.

No treatment is a very valid (and my favorite) option. Molluscum will go away on it’s own, eventually. But, if you want to try to speed up the process, apple cider vinegar is a good compromise.

While I’m all for eating well to nourish your skin from the inside out, in general, most things in your kitchen should not actually go on your skin. There are a few exceptions, and since a lot of people love a good home remedy, I’ll be sharing some of those exceptions. Apple cider vinegar for molluscum is one of the few times it’s actually appropriate to use apple cider vinegar on your skin.

To treat, soak a cotton ball in the vinegar and apply to intact lesions twice daily. If the lesions have already been scratched/picked, avoid further treatment, they are likely on their way out. You don’t need to treat every spot, choose the biggest ones and go for those. Once the immune system is activated, the smaller ones will follow suit. A little irritation is normal, but if the skin gets too irritated, back off to every other day or give it a break for a few days before restarting.

Always consult with a board-certified dermatologist in-person before starting any home treatment. You want to be sure you’ve correctly identified the condition and there aren’t any contraindications.

Hope this is helpful to anyone with little ones at home. Yes, this is the back of my toddler’s knee. And yes, it was miserable getting him to hold still for these photos. Needless to say, we chose the no treatment route!