A Case Series: Experience of Using 20% Potassium Hydroxide Solution to Treat Adult Sexually Transmitted Molluscum Contagiosum.

BACKGROUND

Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a benign disease of the skin and mucous membrane caused by a poxvirus. To date, there is no standard therapy used for the treatment of MC. Using 10% of potassium hydroxide (KOH) once or twice a day and 20% KOH once a day are often applicable to MC lesions both in children and adults. Nevertheless, the usage of 20% KOH twice a day still has not been reported.

PURPOSE

This case series aimed to show the efficacy and side effects of once- or twice-daily application of 20% KOH solution for MC lesions due to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in adults.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Three cases of MC on the genital were applied once or twice daily and one case of MC on the face was applied twice daily using 20% KOH solution.

RESULTS

As a result, the application of 20% KOH twice daily showed the improvement of MC lesions on the face on day 7 and MC lesions on the genital on day 20. Meanwhile, once-daily application of 20% KOH showed diminished MC lesions on genital on day 25-31 after treatment. There were tolerable side effects that occurred in this treatment, such as stinging and burning sensation several minutes after application, erosions, and post-inflammatory hypo- and hyper-pigmentation.

CONCLUSION

The 20% KOH solution twice daily on MC lesions in adults is effective, practical, and inexpensive.