https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/molluscum-contagiosum/index.html

No, it's not a Harry Potter spell. :-) We learned about this the hard way. Molluscum is a pox virus that is highly contagious, and spread by contact (Body to body, you touching an infected towel that someone wiped themselves with, a surface that has been inoculated with the virus by an infected person touching their lesions then the object, etc). It's one of those reasons you should definitely wash your hands!

Had never heard about it before it was contracted through play or contact in one of Portland's clubs (most likely). Luckily, the virus is benign other than being a Nuisance to get rid of; it doesn't cause any harm, but while you have it, you can spread it all over your own body or to someone else when you have the lesions present. if you scratch the lesions, I suppose they could get irritated/infected.

Average times to clear it from your body without medical intervention can be 6-12 months; that's how long it can take for your body to figure out you have this virus and starts to deal with it on it's own. Otherwise, your options to start getting rid of it are cryotherapy, cuterage, laser therapy or different creams that are meant to trigger the body's immune response (MC hangs out on the top layer of skin and it's harder for your body to realize there is something it needs to deal with). there's even a subreddit that people discuss identifying and what treatments they use, what works for them, etc... Average on the forum (anecdotally) is about 6 months with medical intervention. If you have unlimited resources and a doctor willing to treat you weekly, you can probably knock it down pretty quickly. I've had about 5 visits with the Dr, and probably have spent close to $1200 so far for the appointments and cryotherapy.

It can look like razor burn or acne.

We thought we knew all of the things to look out for when we entered into the lifestyle, but this was something we had never heard of before. Others who have been in the LS for years had never heard of it before we had mentioned it. It isn't tested for in STI panels. I think that's why it maybe spreading...it can often be overlooked as razor burn or acne in the genital area that won't go away on it's own. And again, other than being 'cooties' there isn't a severe impact to it. I can tell you it can have a significant psychological impact. You can try to have safe sex with a partner, but then you'll wonder if a new MC shows up a few days later, if it was from giving in to your urges. And I didn't want to inflict this on anyone else. It's quite the mindfuck.

When I first noticed it in November, the urgent care misdiagnosed it as a 'staph infection' from shaving the pubic region, and after it not clearing in over a month, I made an appoint with a dermatologist who made an identification and we started cryotherapy and trentinoin (cream to induce body's immune response). I've also tried some of the techniques that have been successful with others, like Apple cider vinegar, Salicylic acid, pimple patches, and self extraction of the virus cores when they come to a 'head'. If you want to play self surgeon, this can be the experience for you. Watch some videos on youtube and go at it. :-/

It's almost gone, but it can incubate for a few weeks after the lesions are gone. So you're not contagious until you see lesions, but you can have it pop back up after you think you're cleared and then you have to sit out the game until it clears again. Things that can cause it to spread on your body - shaving, scratching. You should only use towels once. Cover the infected areas. Unfortunately, it's in your own best interest to not have sex as the 'physical contact' can rupture the lesion spreading the virus (even if you cover the lesions with things like duct tape, or clothing and use a condom. Every want to try sex using the opening in the front of your pajamas while using a condom?

There's a limited number of treatments out there, and some Doctors and Dermatologists don't take it seriously because it's 'benign' and will go away on it's own in under 24 months... :-(