An online resource for those who have contracted molluscum contagiosum

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Okay, let me first say that this is not an entirely pleasant read. Molluscum Contagiosum is a skin disease that I suffered for the entire year of 2005. The only reason that I have created this page is to help out whoever else may be dealing with it. I was forced to learn a great deal about this infection the hard way, I literally spent thousands of dollars trying different things to cure it, and unfortunately I even had doctors who misdiagnosed me and made things worse.

I don't wish this disease on anyone, and I am happy to announce that through trial and error, I have figured out how to overcome it. And it's really not all that expensive in the end.

What follows is my personal experience; I can't guarantee that what I've done will work for everyone or that your experience will be the same as mine. This is just my way of trying to give back and help, so that hopefully if you're dealing with it, you can be all better within a month or two, instead of a full year like me.

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The Doctor Experience

It is not my intention to bad-mouth anyone, but my personal experience with the dermatologists was very painful, very expensive, and did NOT cure the disease. As anyone who has been knows, the doctor's method of treatment is to literally scrape the lesions off the skin. Granted, this works for many people, but in my case it was just a temporary fix. See, here's the problem - after the treatment, the doctor told me to go home and soak in the tub as a way to remove the "debris." However, after talking to other specialists, I've learned the painful truth that the virus actually flourishes in a warm, damp environment. Soaking in the tub actually made it worse. This much I also know for sure, because of the way it spread on me. At the beginning, I only had one cluster of lesions, right below my waist. After being scraped and soaking in the tub, they came back - not just in one cluster, but all over the place.

What sucks even more about this is the fact that this happened a few times before I knew what was going on. I kept paying for these costly and unpleasant treatments, only to go home and spread the remainder even more.

Here's the lesson - do NOT soak in the tub. Keep the area as dry as possible. Shower, don't soak, and then dry the area off as soon as you're finished. Avoid hot tubs, although a cold swimming pool once in a while should be okay so long as you dry off right away.

Grooming

Something else I learned the hard way is the whole shaving thing. I was keeping the area clean shaven as a way to see things clearer... foolishly. Ya see, not only does the possibility of razor bumps create the potential for an ugly confusing mess of redness, but the razor itself can actually open and spread the lesions. Ya accidentally pop one of those things, and you've just made it worse.

Here's the lesson - it's a good idea to keep the area trimmed... but don't use a razor. Use a beard and mustache trimmer, or use scissors. Keep it short, but not bald.

Self Treatment

I asked my doctor if I should use medicated lotion on the area to help it heal. He said yes. Once again, this was a mistake. The virus thrives in a warm and damp environment, remember? Lotion makes it worse! Once again, let me stress - keep the area as dry as possible.

Here's what does work - tea tree oil. You can find it at any natural products store. And it's only $20 a bottle or so. The stuff is extremely potent as a natural antibacterial, and thus the bottle will last you a long time.

If you look closely at a lot of the herbal remedies out there online (once again I won't bad-mouth anyone here, but I also spent a lot of money trying the various concoctions you can buy online and they also did NOT work for me), they all boast tea tree oil as one of their main ingredients. So... why get something that boasts a powerful ingredient in the mix, when you can just get the ingredient by itself?

But, here's the only problem - the stuff is so potent, you have to be careful when applying it. Seriously, use a cotton ball. Apply it very lightly to the whole area; do not use your fingers, and do not pour it on directly. Then, you have to keep an eye on the area. If a part of your skin reacts harshly to the stuff (usually as dry redness), have some hydrocortisone and neosporin handy. Really if you're careful you shouldn't need it, but keep it handy to be on the safe side.

Ooh, and check this out - they actually make tea tree oil soap. You can get it at Trader Joe's, among other places. Use it in the shower, it helps.

Alternative Home Treatment

If you've already searched the Internet for Molluscum information, you've probably come across some of those electronic skin-zapper devices. I've tried these too. I admit, they help... but they also can cause side effects. The part that I used to zap the spots helped them heal... but the other parts that you use on your surrounding skin to "ground" the electrical charge actually caused these weird itchy spots that took a long time to go away.

If everything else I've mentioned here doesn't work for you, try the electrical approach. But, I highly recommend that you only buy the unit and the absolutely necessary pieces that go with it - don't buy the whole expensive bundle, because a lot of the extra crap they throw in there is a rip-off. I bought one that had this special "molluscum soap" in it, and I swear I could see the outline of the word "Olay" very faintly on the bar.

Healing from the Inside

Another big, big part of recovering from the Molluscum Contagiosum virus is getting your immune system as strong as possible. Your body will recognize and combat the virus, but not if it's already busy fighting the flu or colds - so start getting yourself as healthy as possible. Stay away from alcohol, eat healthy, and exercise.

Then, get yourself some customized multivitamins.

In late 2005 I was introduced to a company called Ideal Health, and I have been eternally grateful. I was already at a point where I was taking a crapload of vitamins with every single meal (vitamin c, e, calcium, magnesium, multis, folic acid, glucosamine, and more), and it was getting ridiculous. And the worst part was I wasn't even really sure what I was taking - if I was getting enough, or too much, or what. I was guessing. Well, what Ideal Health does is actually take the guess work out of supplementing. You take a test, and then they formulate a blend for you based specifically on what your body needs. There really is no better way to get your body running at 100%... and my molluscum contagiosum didn't fully clear up and stay gone until I had been taking my custom essentials for a couple months. And it's not expensive at all.

Check it out, take your Privatest.

Incidentally, much of this whole experience has been a blessing in disguise. If I hadn't contracted the virus, I lkely wouldn't have been introduced to Ideal Health. But, now that I have, and that it has been a very positive healing experience, I have since become a Marketer for Ideal Health. Vis a vis, now I am making a good deal of money every month via commission checks from them. The business opportunity through Ideal Health is brilliant. I recommend looking into it. I'll answer any questions you may have.

Food

In addition to custom essentials, it helps to eat food that is also good for your skin. That would be anything that is rich in vitamins A and E. Almonds, carrots, broccoli and spinach are the easiest to come by. Fish oils are also very good for the skin, so make sure you get lots of fish in your diet.

Review

Let's sum up.

1. If you have lots of lesions, visit the dermatologist and get them removed. But be vary wary of everything I have said so that they do not come back. Hopefully everything else listed will be a preventative measure.

2. Keep the area as dry as possible.

3. Keep the hair short, but not shaved.

4. Dab the infected area with tea tree oil via cotton ball once in the morning and once before bed. Wash the area with tea tree oil soap when showering. Keep hydrocortisone handy just in case any areas of your skin react harshly to the oil. (That only tends to happen when heavy doses are used on NON-infected skin.)

5. Get your immune system running at 100%. This means eat healthy, stay away from drugs and alcohol, work out, and get on custom multivitamins.

All in all, this won't cost you very much money. A couple hundred bucks, tops. And in the end, you'll be much healthier.

My Experience

I'm not a doctor. I'm just a guy who has been through a horrible experience, and I'm writing this up to hopefully prevent others from going through the nasty times I had to. I can't guarantee that everything I've written here will work for every body - we are all different after all. I just remember when I was scouring the Internet for information regarding the disease, I couldn't find any pages such as this one. It's understandable - it is an unpleasant subject after all. But for the greater good, I write. This has not been a pleasant page to create. But now that it's up, I hope I have been of some help to those who are suffering.

Feel free to contact me if you have any specific questions. I will do what I can to answer them. The questions I receive more often are listed below.

- humbly, Christopher G.

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Frequently Asked Questions
- added 10/2/2008

Firstly I'd like to thank all the people that have written to me, either with questions or with success stories. The fact that my experience above has helped others heal and recover faster means a lot to me. My own ordeal was hellish enough, and the whole point of writing this page in the first place was to try to make an effort to prevent others from having to go through the same thing. According to countless e-mails received from people around the world, it seems to have done just that.

That said, there are some questions I am asked quite often, so here they are with the answers:

Q. How long does it take for the spots do go away once you start using the tea tree oil, and how do they go away exactly?
A. In my case, once I had all the elements lined up (tea tree oil, custom multivitamins, keeping the area as dry as possible, vitamin-E rich food, etc.), I recovered in about 3 weeks. I've had others write to me that for them it took 5-6 weeks, and others write to me saying that it took 2 months. So it depends on how many lesions are there, as well as how much internal boosting of the immune system is done. And as to how they go, they should just fade away. They won't scab up or peel off or anything, they'll just gradually disappear.

Q. Should I dilute the tea tree oil?
A. No, just make sure you apply it very thinly. A tiny dab on a cotton ball, seriously. If you accidentally apply too much and suffer any irritation, back off the oil for a few days and counteract the redness with hydrocortizone. This is also true for itching. The hydrocortizone isn't like lotion, it won't spread the virus, but it will ease any irritation.

Q. Can I use the oil on my infant child?
A. Yes, but again, use it very, very thinly.

Q. What can I do to boost the immune system of my child? They're not old enough for custom multivitamins.
A. I've had some mothers write to me that they used Thujo to boost their children's immune system, and there are plenty of Vitamin C boosters out there for all ages as well. Use those consistently, and that should help.

Q. I have no idea where I got the virus; is this normal?
A. Truth is, I've had a LOT of people write to me about this, and I think only two said that they caught it from sexual activity. Everyone else speculates that maybe it was a locker room, or a used towel, or something along those lines, but don't know for sure. In my case, I have no idea where I got it. However, there have been a few men who have stated that the molluscum virus appeared on them shortly after being with their girlfriend while she was suffering a yeast infection, so there may be some correlation there.

Q. Should I pop the spots and try to remove them myself?
A. Absolutely not, unless you want to spread the virus. I understand the frustration you may be dealing with at the doctor's office, or your impatience with the effects of the oil, but do NOT try to pop, freeze, or scrape the spots on your own. It will only serve the spread the infection.

Q. After the spots fade, how long should I wait before resuming sexual activity?
A. Wait until all the spots have completely faded, and then wait another 2 weeks. That tends to be the fair amount of time to wait to determine whether any new spots might show up. So keep a close eye on the area, treat anything that might possibly be a new lesion, and if at the end of two weeks no clearly visible new spots have resurfaced, then you're good to go. Do try to keep the immune system strong afterwards though; the molluscum virus is most likely to return during times of immune system weakness, such as intense stress or illness.

Q. After I've recovered, am I immune? Or is there a possibility that the virus could return?
A. Sorry to say it, but there still remains the possibility that it can return. Inspect yourself on a regular basis and keep some tea tree oil handy just in case.

- humbly, Christopher G.

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Donations

Based on the countless e-mails I've received, most people who try my advice are completely healed within a matter of a couple months, sometimes even as little as a couple weeks. This end result indicates months or even years free of the torment of carrying the virus and dealing with all the consequences thereof, not to mention the hundreds and thousands of dollars saved that would have otherwise been spent at doctors' and dermatologists' offices. To that end, if you'd like to send me a little something as a thank you, you may use the donate button below.

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Misc. Skin Info

Since I seem to also get other skin-related questions often in my e-mail, I've decided to add to this page with some other random skin-care info.

Healing Scars
An understandable question, I often get asked how to heal scars. Sometimes the various doctor treatments can be harmful to the skin, leaving unsightly marks, especially undesirable in the private area. So how do you take care of that? The answer - Vitamin E oil. Used regularly, the oil will gradually begin to repair the skin and remove scar tissue. Remember, don't use it if you're still in the healing phase - wait until a few weeks after just to be safe - but then apply on a consistent basis to see the results over time.

Rash Relief
There's a very good product on the market called Recreo Powder, works wonders for soothing and healing rashes. From diaper irritation to mild burns, bed sores and more, it helps. You can order it online at www.recreopowder.com. And I actually have personal experience with this as well. See, I don't have children of my own, but for a couple weeks I babysat my one-year-old nephew here in my house. After the first day here he developed a terrible diaper rash. Thus my wife and I were worried that his whole stay with us would be difficult, he would be crying every time we changed him, and that it would take the entire stay for the rash to go away. But then I tried Recreo for the first time, and...wow. It really works. He healed very quickly, stopped crying after a day or two of using the powder, and the rash was pretty much gone by the end of the week. Highly recommended.

Keratosis Pilaris
Oddly enough I have this one too, and am still trying to figure out the best way to handle it. Exfoliation doesn't seem to help much, and the various products I tried don't do much. I have received some e-mails from others that 3,000 IU of Vitamin D will do the trick and make the keratosis fade away, so I'm currently trying that. If successful, I will update this page as such.

Dandruff
Yes, I've suffered from this as well. Head and Shoulders didn't really help, heck a lot of shampoos didn't help... but then I tried a new stylist who turned me on to Redken. And after a few weeks... it worked. So now, that's what I recommend and will continue to use. Click here to visit the Redken site to learn more.

HPV / Genital Warts
This is a tough one. Carriers of this tend to have it indefinitely; it's not a virus that gets killed and leaves, like molluscum. It lays dormant. Supposedly 1 in 4 people are carriers, and in almost everyone it goes dormant completely and stays that way once you hit your late 20s, but there's no guarantee. Now there are 2 different ways to handle this, and the best result is actually to combine the two. The first method is to freeze the warts off, and the best thing to do that with it Compound W Freeze-Off (available at any pharmacy). But it's risky, and can lead to scarring if you don't know what you're doing. I recommend letting a doctor freeze the spots off first, so that you get a sense of how long to leave the liquid nitrogen on, and so on. Only then, try it at home if you get desperate.

The other method is a homeopathic remedy of apple cider vinegar. This is a natural method intended for removing plantar warts on the feet. What you do is take a cotton balls, soak it in apple cider vinegar, press against the wart, and then wrap tape around it overnight. The vinegar works against the wart and breaks it down over time. There are a few problems with trying this on genital warts. The first is that it's notoriously difficult to successfully tape cotton to the area, and the second is that it's very, very painful. The stinging lasts a good 30 minutes before you get used to it, which makes it exceptionally difficult to sleep. But applied properly, it will work away on the spots while you sleep.

Based on my research, the apple cider vinegar method will break the spots down a great deal over the course of 5-7 days... but it rarely makes the spot fade away completely. On the other hand, the liquid nitrogen method will turn the spots into giant scabs, that fade over the course of two weeks... but they often grow back. The best thing to be tried if that happens is to combine both methods. Apply the apple cider vinegar (and try to get the good organic stuff) for 5 to 7 days, until you see the spots getting significantly weaker, and then freeze the suckers. It will be painful, and will lead to more healing time, but works in making the spots go away completely.

And that's all I can offer for now; I know nothing about Eczema or some of the other common skin conditions; what I know I've written here for all to learn from. I hope this helps.

- humbly, Christopher G.