Molluscum Contagiosum in HIV Patient Treated with 20% Topical Glycolic Acid After Resistance with Topical Tretinoin

Abstract

Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a benign papular skin infection caused by Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV). Over the past 30 years, the incidence of MK has continued to increased association with sexually transmitted infections and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The incidence of MC in HIV patients is quite high at 5–8%. Until now there is no standard therapy used for the treatment of MC in patients with HIV. In HIV patients, anti retro viral therapy (ARV) is the main therapy with several other additional therapies such as cantaridin, chemical peeling agents such as glycolic acid (20–70%) and trichloroacetic acid (20–100%), cryosurgery, electrosurgery, incision, lactic acid, laser surgery, podophyllin, retinoic acid, and urea. There have been no studies regarding the administration of topical 20% glycolic acid in MC patients. We report a case of MC in an HIV patient who was treated with 20% topical glycolic acid after failing treatment with topical tretinoin. The diagnosis was made clinically, cytologically, and histopathologically, a white mass was found on compression of the lesion and Henderson-Paterson bodies. The lesions on the face, arms, and legs were given glycolic acid lotion 20% which was applied once a day at night. The lesions started to show responses to the treatment at week 6th as some of the MC papules became hyperpigmented macules. The side effects of therapy that appeared were itching and hyperpigmentation. Topical 20% glycolic acid can be used for MC therapy with minimal side effects, easy to apply and safe.