Best treatments for molluscum contagiosum
2 products may treat molluscum contagiosum. Ranked below by our independent recall-safety rating (rated where FDA data exists) — not medical advice; always consult a professional.
Quick answer: Of the 2 drugs we list for molluscum contagiosum, none are yet flagged as generics in our price data. They’re ranked by each drug’s FDA recall-safety record — not clinical effectiveness for molluscum contagiosum — so confirm the right choice with your prescriber.
Understanding molluscum contagiosum
Molluscum contagiosum is, per the CDC, "an infection caused by a poxvirus that causes lesions (growths)" on the skin. It spreads by contact: "you can get molluscum if you touch someone who has it", and "it can also spread when you touch items that have the virus on it". The most useful thing to know about it is how it ends — CDC says the bumps "typically go away in six months to a year, but they can also take longer to resolve", and that "healthy people usually recover from molluscum without treatment. So, treatment isn't usually needed." The exception CDC names is sores around the genitals, where treatment is usually recommended. CDC also warns against the obvious temptation: "do not try to remove the sores or the fluid inside them yourself." That matters because squeezing or scraping spreads the virus to new skin and risks scarring and secondary infection. This page is general information, not medical advice — and the drugs listed on it are rated on FDA recall-safety data, which is not a measure of how well they clear molluscum.
First-line treatment
The starting point is CDC's, not a drug: in healthy people treatment usually is not needed, and the lesions clear on their own. Where treatment is wanted or recommended, two prescription products are FDA-approved specifically for molluscum. Ycanth (cantharidin) was announced by the FDA as "the first FDA-approved treatment for molluscum contagiosum", for adults and children 2 years and older; the FDA states it "is administered to patients only by health care providers", who "apply a single application on the areas of patients' skin with molluscum bumps every 3 weeks as needed", and warns that "life threatening or fatal toxicities can occur if administered orally" and that the product is flammable even after drying. Zelsuvmi (berdazimer) topical gel, approved 5 January 2024, is "indicated for the topical treatment of molluscum contagiosum (MC) in adults and pediatric patients 1 year of age and older" and is "applied topically to each lesion once a day". Whether to treat, and with which, is a decision for a clinician.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Class | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Solution | — | No data | — | View → | |
| 2 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Kit | — | No data | — | View → |
Full ranking · 2 treatments
ycanth
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Ycanth (Cantharidin) is a medication used to treat Molluscum Contagiosum, Warts.
Price varies
zelsuvmi
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Zelsuvmi (Berdazimer Sodium) is a medication used to treat Molluscum Contagiosum.
Price varies
Frequently asked
- What treats molluscum contagiosum?
- Our catalog lists 2 products that may treat molluscum contagiosum, based on NIH RxClass (MED-RT “may treat”) drug-classification data — not the verbatim FDA label. They're rated where FDA recall-safety data exists.
- What is the best-rated treatment for molluscum contagiosum?
- Ratings appear as FDA recall-safety data accumulates for the products that may treat molluscum contagiosum.
- How are these treatments ranked?
- By our independent score, currently based on FDA regulatory recall-safety data (the methodology blends additional sources as they come online). See the How we rate page.
Treatment associations are derived from NIH RxClass (MED-RT “may treat”) drug-classification data — not the verbatim FDA label. This is general reference, not medical advice — always consult a licensed professional.
Sources
The clinical overview above is written from these authoritative public-health and medical-society sources, independently reviewed against each.