Every spring we see a lot of patients with infectious molluscum contagiosum, both adults and children. The reason for this is that most of them are contracted in the bathroom during winter bathing.
This disease is caused by the infectious molluscum contagiosum virus an epidermal infectious disease. It is characterized by a waxy, shiny papule on the skin with a sunken tip that extrudes a cheese like molluscum contagiosum.
It is transmitted by direct contact or by autoinoculation, often in public bathrooms or swimming pools. It can also be transmitted through sexual contact. It is thought that people with familial genetic allergies are more sensitive to this virus and are prone to generalization. Children and adolescents are susceptible.
After an incubation period of 2 to 3 weeks after infection, it starts as a corn-sized, hemispherical papule that grows slowly and increases to the size of a green bean or a pea, with a light red, creamy white or normal skin color, a waxy sheen on the surface and an umbilical fossa in the center, from which white material can be extruded or picked out. The chronic course of the disease is slightly itchy, and secondary infection after scratching results in basal redness, swelling, pain, purulent discharge and crusting.
When you take a shower, especially when you rub your back hard, there will be a tiny break in the epidermis, and if there is a virus on the towel, you will easily get infected with the molluscum contagiosum virus. The actual fact is that you can use a brand new towel or bring your own towel when you go to the bathroom to take a shower, especially a towel for back rubbing.