What this page covers. Molluscum Treatment Melbourne from Clinic365 is a $249 in-person Specialist GP consult plus in-clinic cryotherapy treatment, run by Dr Ed Skinner at our East Melbourne clinic at Suite 6c, Level 5, 182–184 Victoria Parade. A dedicated cryotherapy clinic runs Tuesdays 10am to 2pm — consultation, examination, and treatment in a single appointment. This page covers what molluscum contagiosum is and how it spreads, the treat-vs-wait decision (molluscum resolves on its own in most adults within 6 to 18 months), the cryotherapy treatment in detail, anogenital molluscum specifically (more common in adults with sexual transmission), how molluscum differs from genital warts and other look-alikes, and how to find the clinic.
What molluscum contagiosum is. Molluscum contagiosum is a common viral skin infection caused by the molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV), a poxvirus. It produces small (1 to 5mm), firm, dome-shaped bumps with a characteristic central indentation (umbilication). The bumps are usually pearly white, flesh-coloured, or pink. They are typically painless but can be itchy. In children, lesions are most common on the trunk, arms, and face — typically picked up through casual skin-to-skin contact at school, swimming pools, or shared towels. In adults, lesions are most often on the genital, groin, lower abdomen, or inner thigh — typically transmitted sexually, although non-sexual transmission still happens (gym equipment, shared clothing, intimate non-sexual contact). The virus only infects skin and does not cause any systemic illness.
Treat or wait — the key decision. Molluscum resolves spontaneously in most adults within 6 to 18 months as the immune system clears the virus. This means non-treatment ('watchful waiting') is a legitimate option for many patients — particularly for small numbers of lesions in non-cosmetically-sensitive areas. The case for active treatment is strongest when: lesions are spreading rapidly to new areas; lesions are in sexually-active areas where transmission to partners is a concern; lesions are visible and cosmetically bothersome; symptoms (itch, irritation) are present; immune-compromising conditions are slowing natural clearance; or you simply prefer to clear them faster than waiting. Dr Skinner works through which approach matches your situation at the consult — there is no wrong answer.
What the appointment covers. A 30-minute Specialist GP appointment with Dr Ed Skinner covers focused history (when the lesions appeared, where they have spread to since, prior treatment if any, sexual-health history, current medications, any immune-compromising conditions), full physical examination of the affected area with appropriate lighting and magnification, confirmation of the diagnosis and exclusion of look-alikes (genital warts, herpes, sebaceous cysts, skin tags), discussion of the treat-vs-wait decision, and in-clinic cryotherapy at the same visit where treatment is the chosen approach. The Specialist GP also covers what you can do to reduce spread to new areas of your own skin and to partners.
Cryotherapy for molluscum. Cryotherapy is the most rapid in-clinic option for molluscum. Liquid nitrogen at -196°C is applied directly to each lesion using a cotton-tipped applicator — typically 5 to 10 seconds per lesion (shorter than for warts because molluscum is more superficial). The treatment stings briefly (about the intensity of a hot pinprick) and most patients tolerate it without local anaesthetic. After treatment the lesion blisters within a few hours, scabs over 1 to 2 days, and falls off within 5 to 10 days. Each session treats the visible lesions; multiple sessions are often needed because new lesions can keep appearing during treatment as previously-incubating ones emerge.
How many sessions are usually needed. Most adult patients have 2 to 4 cryotherapy sessions at 2 to 3 week intervals to clear the visible lesions and catch any new ones emerging from incubation. The treatment is essentially complete when no new lesions have appeared for 4 weeks after the last visible lesion was treated. Resolution rates after a full course are 70 to 90% for typical cases. For patients with many widespread lesions or with immune-compromising conditions, longer treatment courses may be needed. Some patients prefer to stop after the first or second session if a few residual lesions can wait for spontaneous resolution.
Other treatment options. Cryotherapy is the most rapid in-clinic option but is not the only approach. Topical home treatments include immune-stimulating creams (applied a few nights per week — slower than cryotherapy but more convenient for patients with many lesions). Over-the-counter wart-remover preparations are not the right choice for genital areas and are not recommended for molluscum. Mechanical removal (curettage — physically scraping each lesion off) is sometimes used for large or stubborn lesions but is more uncomfortable than cryotherapy and is not the first-line approach for genital lesions. Dr Skinner discusses which approach suits your situation — many patients combine cryotherapy at appointments with a home topical between sessions.
Anogenital molluscum in adults. Anogenital molluscum — lesions on the genitals, groin, perineum, or buttocks — is more common in adults and is usually transmitted through skin-to-skin sexual contact. It is more common in patients with HIV (where immune compromise allows faster spread) and is seen alongside other STI risks in chemsex history. The lesions look the same as elsewhere on the body (small dome-shaped bumps with central umbilication) but the location matters for treatment urgency: anogenital molluscum can spread to partners through sexual contact, so active treatment is the more common recommendation for adults with anogenital lesions. The Specialist GP can also arrange a broader STI screen at the same visit if appropriate.
Distinguishing molluscum from genital warts and other look-alikes. Molluscum and genital warts can both produce small bumps in the genital area, but they are different conditions with different appearances and treatment pathways. Molluscum lesions are typically pearly, dome-shaped, with a central indentation — like tiny pearls or pimples. Genital warts (caused by HPV) are typically flesh-coloured, irregular in shape, sometimes cauliflower-like, without the central indentation. The two conditions can also coexist. Other look-alikes include sebaceous cysts (typically larger, deeper), skin tags (typically pedunculated), pearly penile papules (which are normal anatomy, not infection), and folliculitis (red bumps centred on hair follicles). The Specialist GP confirms which condition is present at the examination — see our genital wart treatment Melbourne page if warts are the diagnosis.
Practical advice to reduce spread. Alongside treatment (or while waiting for spontaneous resolution), simple practical changes reduce spread to new areas of your own skin and to partners. Avoid scratching or picking at lesions — this is the most common way the virus spreads to new skin areas. Avoid sharing towels, razors, or other personal-care items. Cover lesions with clothing or a waterproof dressing when not at home. For anogenital lesions, avoid sexual contact while active lesions are present where possible, or cover with a condom or barrier (recognising that condoms only cover part of the area at risk). After lesions resolve completely with no new ones appearing for 4 weeks, transmission risk has effectively ended.
Getting to our East Melbourne clinic. Suite 6c, Level 5, 182–184 Victoria Parade East Melbourne — on the corner of Albert Street, a 7-minute walk south from Parliament Station. Trams along Victoria Parade include routes 11, 12, 24, 30, 86, and 109. Limited 1-hour and 2-hour metered street parking is available on Albert, Hoddle, and Lansdowne Streets; the Cathedral Place car park is the nearest paid option. The clinic is wheelchair-accessible via ground-floor lift. There is no visible signage on the front of the building — the suite is on Level 5 of a multi-tenant Victoria Parade office building. The dedicated cryotherapy clinic runs Tuesdays 10am to 2pm.
Book the consult. See the hero section above to book the $249 in-person consult plus cryotherapy at our East Melbourne clinic. For genital wart treatment (HPV-related, similar pathway but different virus), see genital wart treatment Melbourne. For broader sexual-health services at the East Melbourne clinic, see sexual health clinic Melbourne.
