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Review Article
06 Aug 2025
Integrative Therapies for Warts and Molluscum Contagiosum
Austin Hwang, BS, Andrea Rustad, BA, Melissa Nickles, MD, Peter Lio, MD
Review Article
15 Jun 2022
Integrative Therapies for Warts and Molluscum Contagiosum
Austin Hwang, BS, Andrea Rustad, BA, Melissa Nickles, MD, Peter Lio, MD
DOI:
10.64550/joid.qtxqdy53
Reviewed by:
Barbara Vinci, MD, Michelle Jeffries, DO
Abstract

Warts and molluscum contagiosum (MC) are common viral skin infections that affect individuals of all age ranges, especially those who are immunocompromised and those in close contact with others.  Conventional therapies for warts and MC include cryotherapy, curettage, imiquimod, and salicylic acid.  However, evidence-based treatment guidelines for warts and MC are lacking.  Considering that conventional therapies may be ineffective in some cases and limited by pain, especially in the pediatric population, clinicians and patients often seek complementary and alternative therapies. This review summarizes the clinical evidence surrounding the following integrative therapies for warts and MC: cantharidin; essential oils such as those from *Backhousia citriodora*, *Melaleuca alternifolia*, and *Santalum album*; propolis; *Echinacea*; heat therapy; garlic; and oral zinc.  Anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and/or immune-modulating effects of these modalities assist in clearing warts and MC. For children who tend to be more vulnerable to suggestion, hypnosis can be attempted as an alternative wart therapy.

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Introduction

Warts and molluscum contagiosum (MC) are common viral skin infections that affect all age ranges, especially immunocompromised individuals and those who have close contact with others - such as physical intimacy or certain sports.1,2 While estimates of their prevalence range from 5.1% to 11.5%, the greatest incidence of warts and molluscum are observed in children between the ages of 1 to 14 years old.3,4 Transmission can occur through direct skin-to-skin contact or indirectly through fomites or the use of personal care items.5 Major types of cutaneous warts include common warts, flat warts, and plantar warts.6 Common warts present as irregularly surfaced, domed lesions with thrombosed capillaries upon paring of overlying hyperkeratotic debris, whereas flat warts are smooth, flat-topped variants often occurring on the face and extremities (Figures 1-2).6 Plantar warts resemble calluses on the plantar surface of the foot with a punctate pattern of multiple pinpoint blood vessels after paring (Figure 3).6 In contrast, MC lesions appear as firm, dome-shaped pink or skin-colored papules with a central umbilication **(