Beware of molluscum contagiosum in swimming pools and gyms: here are the keys to avoid catching it!

MADRID, 27 Nov. (EDITIONS) -

We tend to be careful in swimming pools and always wear flip-flops thinking about fungi, often forgetting molluscum contagiosum, a skin disease that can be easily acquired in swimming pools and gyms.

In an interview with Infosalus, Dr. Cristina García Millán, head of the Pediatric Dermatology Unit and the Atopy School of the Pedro Jaén Group (Madrid) explains that molluscum contagiosum manifests itself on the skin as small papules or pimples of a color very similar to the skin or slightly reddish.

"These lesions have a diameter of between two and five millimeters and sometimes present a very characteristic central depression. The cause of this infection is a virus from the Poxvirus family," the specialist specifies.

He underlines that it is easier to contract this infection in swimming pools and gyms, since the main routes of infection are direct skin-to-skin contact and contact with contaminated surfaces and objects. "In this way, in places with large numbers of barefoot or scantily clad people, this type of infection is more likely to occur," adds Dr. García Millán.

MORE FREQUENT IN CHILDREN

However, the dermatologist clarifies that "it is not more contagious than other skin infections", although it is true that in the case of molluscum it is more contagious in young children because of the habits they have when playing and interacting with their environment (they touch each other a lot and touch everything).

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Regarding treatment, the expert from the Pedro Jaén Group indicates that the dermatologist can treat molluscs contagiosum by applying topical drugs (in cream or liquid), through cryotherapy (freezing the lesion), or by curettage (remove the papule by scraping with a curette).

Of course, in reality, Dr. Cristina García Millán maintains that molluscum contagiosum heals itself without the need to do anything. "The problem is that it can take several years for the patient's immune system to completely get rid of the virus, and in that time the infected patient can infect other people," she warns.

In addition, he points out that the mollusk can cause itching, skin discomfort and eczema, since one of the ways the body defends itself against this infection is to create an eczema around the papule to make it dry.

"Itching and eczema can aggravate the pathology and cause lesions on the skin derived from scratching (wounds, irritations, cracks...), which favors superinfections. In this way, although it is a pathology that tends to to resolve itself, we are in favor of applying treatment since, in addition, there are studies that show that treating contagious molluscs has an impact on shortening the evolution phase of years", details the dermatology specialist.

THE PROBLEM OF ATOPIC SKIN

On the other hand, the member of the Pedro Jaén Group draws attention to the fact that people with atopic skin are a risk group for the contagion of molluscum contagiosum because have damaged the skin barrier (the hydrolipidic layer that prevents the loss of transepidermal water and prevents the penetration of harmful agents from the outside). "For this reason, microorganisms have an easier time infecting these patients," she adds.

In these cases, according to the doctor, it is advisable to wear covering clothing in risky environments and maintain hydration with specific products to keep the skin barrier healthy. Of course, she emphasizes that in general, young children (whether atopic or not) and immunosuppressed patients are also a risk group for mollusc contagion.

Ultimately, and when it comes to preventing the spread of molluscum contagiosum, Dr. Cristina García Millán, head of the Pediatric Dermatology Unit and the Atopy School of the Pedro Jaén Group, points to exhaustive hygiene of surfaces and shared environments, as well as avoiding skin-to-skin contact as much as possible, although in many cases (young children) this point is complicated.