Local spread of molluscum contagiosum by electrolysis.

Electrolysis, a permanent hair-removal technique, involves the Molluscum contagiosum is a communicable viral disease that use of any of three different methods: galvanic electrolysis, theris confined to the skin. Molluscum contagiosum manifests itself molysis, or the blend method. In galvanic electrolysis, a needle as smooth-surfaced, firm, spherical papules with umbilication of (0.005–0.015 mm in diameter) is inserted into the hair follicle the vertex [1]. The lesions may be flesh-colored, white, translucent, and a direct electric current acts on the tissue to produce sodium or yellow and range from 1 mm to 15 mm in diameter, although hydroxide (lye), which destroys the hair bulb [2]. During thermomost are 2 mm to 5 mm in diameter [1–3]. lysis, a high-frequency alternating current is passed down the neeWe report herein a case of molluscum contagiosum, likely condle to produce heat in the follicular tissue by molecular vibration tracted through sexual contact, that was subsequently disseminated [2]. The blend method combines galvanic electrolysis and thermoland exacerbated by electrolysis for permanent hair-removal. ysis. A 24-year-old man presented with complaints of a rash on his Despite relaxed guidelines and training requirements, there have lower abdomen, pubic area, and both inner thighs. He stated that 6 been no reports of HIV infection, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or other months previously, the rash appeared as three pimples: two located infectious complications associated with electrolysis, as there have on his lower abdomen and one on his penis. Two months before been with tattooing, body-piercing, and intramuscular injection presentation, he began undergoing electrolysis (thermolysis) to re[3–4]. However, previous reports described the spread of sporotrimove the hair from both inner thighs for cosmetic purposes. During chosis [5] and flat warts (verrucae planae) [6] through electrolysis. this time, the patient had nine electrolysis treatments. The patient We believe that our patient had sexually transmitted molluscum indicated that during one treatment the electrologist mistakenly intercontagiosum that was locally disseminated by direct and repeated preted the abdominal ‘‘pimples’’ as ingrown hairs and inserted the percutaneous reinoculation with an electrolysis needle. Electrologists electrolysis needle to remove the hairs in order to expedite healing. and health care workers need to be aware that the percutaneous expoUsing the same presumably contaminated needle, the electrologist sures of depilatory needles used during electrolysis can spread and continued to remove the hair from the inner thighs. transmit infectious agents. In this case, molluscum contagiosum was Physical examination revealed that the patient had Ç200 firm, spread locally in the same individual. However, the spread of infection raised flesh-colored papules Ç1–2 mm in diameter in clusters from one individual to another should be considered by cosmetic throughout the area of his inner thighs, lower abdomen, and geniprofessionals whose occupation involves percutaneous exposure. tals. Lesions were restricted to the genital area and areas where