A comparative split-face study of cryosurgery and trichloroacetic acid 100% peels in the treatment of HIV-associated disseminated facial molluscum contagiosum.

A comparative split-face study of 20 participants with disseminated facial molluscum contagiosum (MC) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was conducted to assess treatment with cryosurgery (left side of the face) versus trichloroacetic acid (TCA) 100% peels (right side of the face). A total of 2 treatments were administered at 4-week intervals. At week 8, treatment with TCA 100% proved to be superior to cryosurgery with an average reduction in lesion count of 90% versus 55%, respectively. Demonstrating a statistically significant rate of lesion clearance (P < or = .05), TCA 100% appears to be more effective than cryosurgery at treating disseminated facial MC lesions in the setting of HIV infection.