Molluscum Contagiosum During Pregnancy - 3 Causes & 6 Symptoms You Should Be Aware Of

Image: iStock

Are you experiencing skin troubles during pregnancy? Do you notice white lesions around your face? Are these sores spreading to other parts of your body? If you nodded along, chances are you have a Molluscum contagiosum infection. But, fret not! Read our post to learn about the Molluscum contagiosum during pregnancy, and how you can to treat the infection.

What Is Molluscum Contagiosum?

Molluscum contagiosum is a viral skin infection. The virus, or the molluscum virus, produces bumps on the upper layer of the skin.

Causes Of Molluscum Contagiosum During Pregnancy:

Here are some of the common causes of Molluscum contagiosum:

1. Skin Contact:

The infection spreads through skin contact. Avoid skin contact with infected people.

2. Sexual Contact:

Adults are more likely to be infected by a viral infection through sexual contact.

3. Sharing Your Personal Belongings With An Infected Person:

You can contract the disease if you share towels, clothes and other items with an infected person. The virus survives on surfaces of objects and contaminates them too. So, sterilize all surfaces and clothes to stay away from this infection.

[ Read: Common Skin Problems During Pregnancy ]

Symptoms Of Molluscum Contagiosum During Pregnancy:

If you are suffering from Molluscum infection during gestation, then you will notice a small group of painless lesions that exhibit the following characteristics:

Shiny, smooth and small in appearance.

The color varies from white to pink to flesh-colored.

Some of them are dome-shaped.

The core of these lesions contains wax-like material.

They appear all over the body, the face, abdomen, torso, arms, and legs.

They also appear in the abdomen and genital areas.

[ Read: Symptoms Of Hives During Pregnancy ]

Treating Molluscum Contagiosum While Pregnant:

If you contract lesions around the genital area (on or near the vulva, vagina, or anus), seek immediate medical attention, as lesions in these areas could lead to many complications. Some treatment methods for Molluscum contagiosum pregnancy include:

Topical Therapy:

Some options for topical therapy are as follows:

1. Cryotherapy:

It is the process of freezing the lesion with liquid nitrogen. You will need several sessions of cryotherapy to remove the scars completely.

2. Laser Therapy:

The technique involves using a powerful beam of light to destroy the cells that cause the spots. The treated area becomes discolored. However, the skin regains its normal color. But, you will have to undergo a couple of laser therapy sessions to get rid of scars completely.

3. Diathermy:

The process uses heat to remove the spots. The doctor will give you local anesthesia to numb the area. Later on a heated electrical device is used to burn off the spots.

4. Curettage:

It is the process of removing the spots by piercing with a metal or curette. The doctor will place you under local anesthesia during the treatment.

These options can, however, result in post-procedural pain, irritation, and scarring.

[ Read: Skin Care During Pregnancy ]

A Few Other Treatment Options:

Avoid scratching the affected area. Scratching or scraping the affected skin could cause a bacterial infection. Scratching also increases the risk of spreading the infection. You can use some other treatment options like:

Iodine

Salicylic acid

Potassium hydroxide

Tretinoin

Cantharidin

Imiquimod (T-cell modifier) (1)

[ Read: Skin Tags During Pregnancy ]

Here is a word of caution for all you new mommies-to-be. Podophyllotoxin cream (0.5%) is not good for pregnant women because of presumed toxicity to the fetus, so do not use it. Before opting for any of these treatment options; do consult your doctor. Also, treat each lesion individually as the therapeutic effect is localized.

Did you contract Molluscum contagiosum in pregnancy? If yes, what precautions did you take? What treatment did you undergo? Share your stories with fellow mommies about molluscum contagiosum and pregnancy. Leave a comment below.