Molluscum contagiosum is a skin infection caused by the molluscum contagiosum virus. It is manifested with dome-shaped lesions on the skin. The lesions are flesh-colored and pearly in appearance. Pain is not present, although itching might be felt if they are irritated. Additional scratching might cause infection or scarring. Molluscum contagiosum virus type 2 is often sexually transmitted. The lesions tend to heal themselves within 6 to 8 weeks, but autoinoculation is frequent and prolongs the period needed for complete healing of the outbreak.
There are many treatment options. Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen is a widely used method for treating molluscum contagiosum. The infected cells can fall immediately or fade within several days. Other chemicals (most of them astringents) might be used for treating molluscum contagiosum.
As for when the infection can be transmitted, the answer is: all the time when there is a lesion present. The lesions contain the viruses and once they are completely solved, there are no viruses that can be transmitted to someone else’s skin.
You might want to visit a dermatologist for a physical examination and to determine the most effective and most suitable treatment option for you.
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