After Treatment
After Molluscum Treatment
Instructions for recovery after curettage or cantharidin treatment for molluscum contagiosum.
After Curettage
- Small wounds are left where each lesion was removed
- Apply antibiotic ointment or Vaseline and cover with a plaster
- Healing takes 7-10 days
- A small scab will form - let it fall off naturally
After Cantharidin
- Remove the plaster and wash the area with soap and water after 1 hour
- A blister may form within 24-48 hours - this is a normal reaction
- If the blister is painful, it can be carefully drained with a clean needle
- Apply antibiotic ointment and cover
- Full healing in 7-14 days
Important to Know
New molluscum lesions may appear after treatment from virus already incubating in the skin. This does not mean the treatment failed. Additional treatment sessions may be needed.
Preventing Spread
- Do not share towels or bath items until fully healed
- Keep the treated areas covered
- Avoid scratching - this can spread the virus to other areas
When to Contact Us
- Signs of infection: spreading redness, pus, fever
- Severe persistent pain
- Bleeding that does not stop
