What is the Difference Between Molluscum Contagiosum and Warts

The key difference between molluscum contagiosum and warts is that molluscum contagiosum is a skin disease caused by a DNA virus called molluscum contagiosum virus, while warts are a skin disease caused by human papillomavirus.

Molluscum contagiosum and warts are two skin conditions caused by DNA viruses. Both these skin conditions are generally benign. Moreover, damage to the skin in these skin conditions, such as scratching, shaving, or breaking the skin, can lead to their spreading. In addition, both these skin conditions normally spread through skin-to-skin contact. These skin conditions can also lead to scarring that needs cosmetic intervention.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Molluscum Contagiosum
3. What are Warts
4. Similarities – Molluscum Contagiosum and Warts
5. Molluscum Contagiosum vs Warts in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Molluscum Contagiosum vs Warts

What is Molluscum Contagiosum?

Molluscum contagiosum is a skin disease that is caused by a DNA virus called molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV). It is a common infection caused by the MCV virus. Molluscum contagiosum spreads through skin-to-skin contact or through contact with infected objects. The signs and symptoms of this condition may include raised, round, skin-colored bumps, small bumps of size around 6mm in diameter, bumps with a small dent, itchy, pink bumps, bumps usually on the face, trunk, arms, or legs in children, and bumps on genitals, lower abdomen, or inner thigh in adults if the infection was sexually transmitted. The complications caused due to this skin condition may include skin inflammation, scarring, and pink eye (conjunctivitis).

Molluscum contagiosum can be diagnosed through physical examination and by viewing the skin scrapings from the infected area under a microscope. Furthermore, treatment options for molluscum contagiosum may include a medicine that irritates the sores (retinoic acid or benzoyl peroxide), a medicine that causes blisters (cantharidin), bumps, scraping, freezing (cryotherapy), and laser therapy.

What are Warts?

Warts are a skin disease caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Warts are non-cancerous growth. The virus makes the outer layer of the skin thick and hard in that spot. Warts can appear anywhere in the body. But they commonly appear on hands and feet. The symptoms of this condition may include small, fleshy, grainy bumps, round or oval-shaped bumps,  rough when touching, having an irregular surface, often developing in knuckles, fingers, and knees,  sprinkled with black pinpoints, and bumps in less than 1 mm to more than 10 mm. The complications of warts may include cancers such as cervical cancer and throat (oropharyngeal) cancer.

Warts can be diagnosed through physical examination, skin biopsy, and genetic testing for the virus. Furthermore, treatment options for warts may include cantharidin (blister warts), cryotherapy, electrosurgery and curettage, excision, laser therapy, chemical peels, bleomycin (anti-cancer drug), and immune therapy (applying a chemical called diphencyprone (DCP) to warts).

What are the Similarities Between Molluscum Contagiosum and Warts?

• Molluscum contagiosum and warts are two skin conditions caused by DNA viruses.
• Both these skin conditions are generally benign.
• Damage to the skin in these skin conditions, such as scratching, shaving, or another breaking of the skin, can lead to their spreading.
• Both these skin conditions normally spread through skin-to-skin contact.
• They can be sexually transmitted.
• They can cause scarring.
• Both these skin conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination.
• They are treated through specific medicines and therapies.

What is the Difference Between Molluscum Contagiosum and Warts?

Molluscum contagiosum is a skin disease caused by a DNA virus called molluscum contagiosum virus, while warts are a skin disease caused by human papillomavirus. Thus, this is the key difference between molluscum contagiosum and warts. Furthermore, molluscum contagiosum can appear anywhere on the body, while warts mainly appear on the palms of the hand and soles of the feet.

The below infographic presents the differences between molluscum contagiosum and warts in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Molluscum Contagiosum vs Warts

Molluscum contagiosum and warts are two skin conditions caused by DNA viruses. Both these diseases are common skin infections that normally spread through skin-to-skin contact. Molluscum contagiosum is caused by a DNA virus called molluscum contagiosum virus, while warts are caused by human papillomavirus. So, this summarizes the difference between molluscum contagiosum and warts.

Reference:

1. “Molluscum Contagiosum.”NHS Choices, NHS.
2. Carey, Elea. “Warts: Types, Images, Treatment, and More.” Healthline, Healthline Media.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Molluscum contagiosum” By Gzzz – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Warts and All” By Andrew Scott (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) via Flickr