I know lots about eczema but until recently, not so much about molluscum. What I do know is that many mums have bought my world famous Scratchy Balm to use on molluscum because about 5 years ago, a mum tried it on her daughter and it got rid of her molluscum when nothing else worked, and she wrote a blog about it. And since then hundreds of mums have found the same thing. So I thought it was about time I got to know a little more about this thing that so many children have.
What is Molluscum Contagiosum?
According to the dictionary, “a chronic viral disorder of the skin characterized by groups of small, smooth, painless pinkish nodules with a central depression, that yield a milky fluid when squeezed.”
It’s catching (that will be the contagiousum bit) and so lots of children get it off each other. It’s passed onto other people via skin contact, or even sharing towels/clothes and thing like that. Parents that have taken their kids to the GP with it are invariably told that it is harmless, untreatable and will go away by itself in a few months. But I know that the mums who have contacted me about it say it’s horrid, sore and itchy and they aren’t prepared to wait for it to go away in a few months.
So, by coincidence, it turns out that Scratchy Balm works really well on getting rid of molluscum, and I’ve had tons of feedback from mums to confirm this. I didn’t really know why it works on molluscum, as well as eczema and sensitive skin, so I thought I’d look into it. At the same time, I’m discovering there is a connection between eczema and molluscum, many children get both.
Is Molluscum linked to Eczema?
I think it is, and this is because eczema impairs the surface of the skin, and the skin’s ability to keep infection out. Please read my blog on the role of filaggrin and the skin. So as the skin of those with eczema is less effective (it’s not as good at keeping the body protected from external irritants and allergens) it is more likely to pick up infections, such as molluscum. And not only that, but once a child has had molluscum they are likely to get eczema around the molluscum papules as this skin becomes damaged.
So Why Does Scratchy Balm Work?
If you’ve read the above paragraph, it will make sense that Scratchy Balm works because it helps the surface of the skin to start working more effectively again. And the ingredients in Scratchy Balm (particularly the beeswax, lavender and patchouli) are anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal so they help to eliminate allergens, infection and irritants.
Here’s what some mums have said after using Scratchy Balm on molluscum:
“I ordered it and started using it every night and within days you could see a difference, the molluscum has now gone and all that is left is a few scars and red marks from ones that had caught and bled previously.”
“After a week has made a difference to my children’s molluscum without any discomfort, unlike some other treatments.”
If you are going to try it, I would recommend using it at least twice a day for at least 2-3 weeks to get results. 
It’s a good idea to follow other hygiene advice when dealing with both conditions, such as not scratching, keeping fingernails short and not sharing towels etc.
Hope this all makes sense and helps you understand a bit more about how important it is to keep skin healthy and working properly. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Click here to read what the NHS have to say about Molluscum.
