Molluscum contagiosum has been studied and treated for almost two centuries, and while modern therapies are helping patients obtain better outcomes, some aspects of managing and treating the disease remain challenging
At the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting, Dr. Adelaide Hebert, chief of pediatric dermatology at the UT McGovern School of Medicine and Children’s Memorial Hospital, presented updates on the treatment of molluscum contagiosum, a condition affecting more than six million Americans annually.
Impact on Children
Dr. Hebert said that molluscum particularly impacts children (and their families), with cases commonly transmitted through close contact, shared objects, or swimming. She also talked on the importance of addressing misconceptions about molluscum transmission, as the symptoms of the condition have been cited as reasons for embarrassment or ostracization among peers. Dr. Hebert noted that children with molluscum are frequently excluded from activities like swimming or sleepovers due to fears of transmission.
Swimming pools are a common source of concern, she noted, and are often blamed for spreading the virus. While some infections can be traced to contact between swimmers or swim objects, Dr. Hebert said this shouldn’t stop children from participating in these activities.
“Children [with molluscum] should still be allowed to swim,” Dr. Hebert said, noting the benefits of swimming for physical and emotional development. She recommended avoiding direct skin-to-skin contact and sharing towels as effective prevention strategies.
New Therapies
While molluscum can resolve on its own, the process is slow and can take months or years, during which the infection can spread further. Dr. Hebert discussed two FDA-approved treatments from the recent past that provide options for managing molluscum in many patients: VP-102 (a cantharidin-based product) and berdazimer gel 10.3%, which uses nitric oxide to target lesions.
“Parents often come to my clinic distressed about the spread of molluscum within their families or frustration over delays in treatment,” she said.
Dr. Hebert also spent some time in her presentation talking about the interaction between molluscum and pre-existing conditions like eczema. Molluscum can exacerbate eczema, triggering flare-ups that make the condition harder to manage. By targeting the virus more effectively, the new treatments can help mitigate these complications as well.
“Molluscum is with us. It is worldwide,” Dr. Hebert concluded. “We now have two approved drugs, one of which is currently commercially available and the other of which will be commercially available in coming months, so stay tuned. We are in a new era of therapy. I think this will change the landscape.”
Source: Hebert A. What’s New in Molluscum Contagiosum? Presented at: 2025 AAD Annual Meeting, March 7-11, 2025; Orlando.