FREEbulk-billed with Medicare · East Melbourne in-clinic
In-person molluscum treatment for adults by a Specialist GP at our East Melbourne clinic. Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen (or curettage where appropriate), consult and treatment in one 30-minute Tuesday appointment. Bulk-billed for Medicare card holders.
Adult clinic only — not paediatric. Suite 6c, Level 5, 182–184 Victoria Parade.
This is an in-person procedural service for adults — not telehealth and not paediatric. Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen (and curettage with topical anaesthetic where appropriate) is delivered at our East Melbourne clinic at Suite 6c, Level 5, 182–184 Victoria Parade. The 30-minute Tuesday appointment covers consult, examination, and in-clinic treatment in one visit — bulk-billed for Medicare card holders or $249 without.
Molluscum resolves on its own in most adults within 6 to 18 months, so non-treatment is a legitimate option. Active treatment makes most sense when lesions are spreading rapidly, in sexually-active areas where transmission to partners is a concern, symptomatic, or where you simply prefer faster clearance. The Specialist GP works through which approach matches your situation.
What molluscum contagiosum is. Molluscum contagiosum is a viral skin infection caused by a poxvirus. It produces small (1 to 5mm), firm, dome-shaped bumps with a characteristic central indentation. Bumps are typically pearly white, flesh-coloured, or pink — usually painless but sometimes itchy. In adults, lesions are most often on the genitals, groin, lower abdomen, or inner thigh — typically transmitted through skin-to-skin sexual contact. Non-sexual transmission (gym equipment, shared clothing, intimate non-sexual contact) still happens but is less common in this distribution. The virus only infects skin and does not cause any systemic illness.
What the appointment covers. A 30-minute in-person Specialist GP appointment covering focused history (when the lesions appeared, where they have spread to since, sexual-health history, any immune-compromising conditions), full physical examination with appropriate lighting and magnification, confirmation of the diagnosis and exclusion of look-alikes, discussion of the treat-vs-wait decision, and in-clinic treatment at the same visit where treatment is chosen. No referral from another GP is needed — book directly through Clinic365.
Cryotherapy in detail. Cryotherapy is the most rapid in-clinic option and the standard first-line treatment. 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 each lesion blisters within hours, scabs over 1 to 2 days, and falls off within 5 to 10 days. Most patients have 2 to 4 sessions at 2 to 3 week intervals. Resolution rates with cryotherapy are 70 to 90% for typical cases.
Curettage as an alternative. Curettage — physically scraping each lesion off after topical anaesthetic — is an alternative for large or stubborn lesions, or where cryotherapy is not the right fit. The lesions are removed in a single session for the visible ones, although new lesions can still emerge from incubation over the following weeks. Curettage takes a little longer per session than cryotherapy but the immediate result is more thorough for individual lesions. The Specialist GP advises on which approach (or combination) suits your situation.
Recurrence and treatment endpoint. Cryotherapy clears the visible lesions but the virus is in the skin, so new lesions can emerge from incubation during and after a treatment course. Treatment is essentially complete when no new lesions have appeared for 4 weeks after the last visible lesion was treated. Around 10 to 15% of patients have at least one batch of new lesions in the months after treatment finishes — these are typically managed with a short follow-up course. After full resolution with no new lesions for 4 weeks, transmission risk has effectively ended.
Distinguishing 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. Molluscum lesions are typically pearly, dome-shaped, with a central indentation. Genital warts are typically flesh-coloured, irregular, sometimes cauliflower-like, without the central indentation. The two can coexist. Other look-alikes include sebaceous cysts, skin tags, pearly penile papules (normal anatomy, not infection), and folliculitis. The Specialist GP confirms which condition is present at the examination.
Practical advice to reduce spread. Alongside treatment (or while waiting for spontaneous resolution), 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. For anogenital lesions, avoid sexual contact while active lesions are present, or cover with a condom or barrier (recognising condoms only cover part of the area at risk). The Specialist GP can also arrange a broader STI screen at the same visit where appropriate.
Frequently asked questions
Cryotherapy is the most rapid in-clinic molluscum treatment. Liquid nitrogen at -196°C is applied directly to each lesion using a cotton-tipped applicator for 5 to 10 seconds per lesion (shorter than for warts because molluscum is more superficial). The treatment stings briefly and most patients tolerate it without local anaesthetic. After treatment each lesion blisters, scabs, and falls off within 5 to 10 days. Most patients have 2 to 4 sessions at 2 to 3 week intervals.
Yes — that is how the Tuesday clinic is structured. A 30-minute appointment covers focused history, examination of the affected area, confirmation of the diagnosis (and exclusion of look-alikes like genital warts or herpes), discussion of the treat-vs-wait decision, and in-clinic cryotherapy at the same visit where treatment is the chosen approach. There is no separate procedure visit needed for standard cases.
Yes — non-treatment is a legitimate option for many adults. Molluscum resolves on its own within 6 to 18 months in most patients as the immune system clears the virus. Active treatment makes most sense when: lesions are spreading rapidly; lesions are in sexually-active areas where transmission to partners is a concern; symptoms (itch, irritation) are present; immune-compromising conditions are slowing natural clearance; or you simply prefer faster clearance. The Specialist GP works through which approach matches your situation.
Most adult patients have 2 to 4 sessions at 2 to 3 week intervals. 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 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.
Cryotherapy stings briefly during the application — about the intensity of a hot pinprick — and most patients tolerate it without local anaesthetic. The sting fades within a few minutes of the treatment finishing. After treatment, the treated area can feel sore for a day or two and may itch as it heals. Paracetamol or ibuprofen is enough for most patients. For patients with low pain tolerance or sensitive areas, the Specialist GP can discuss local anaesthetic options.
Possibly. The cryotherapy clears the visible lesions, but the virus is in the skin and new lesions can emerge from incubation during and after the treatment course. The treatment is essentially complete when no new lesions have appeared for 4 weeks after the last visible lesion was treated. Around 10 to 15% of patients have at least one batch of new lesions in the months after treatment finishes — these are typically treated with a short follow-up course. After full resolution with no new lesions for 4 weeks, transmission risk has effectively ended.
Anogenital molluscum in adults is usually sexually transmitted, which means it has higher transmission risk to partners through skin-to-skin sexual contact. Active treatment is more commonly recommended for this distribution to reduce both partner transmission and ongoing self-spread. The lesions themselves look the same anywhere on the body (small dome-shaped bumps with a central indentation), but the sexually-active anogenital location matters for the treat-vs-wait decision. The Specialist GP can also arrange a broader STI screen at the same visit where appropriate.
No. Molluscum contagiosum virus only infects skin and does not cause systemic illness, internal disease, or cancer. The infection is essentially cosmetic and behavioural (transmission concern), not a serious health condition. The exception is for people with significant immune compromise (advanced HIV, transplant recipients), where lesions can be very widespread and persistent — in those cases the broader immune situation is the more important issue rather than the molluscum itself.
No. Book directly with Clinic365 via the online booking system — no referral from another GP is needed. The Specialist GP can issue referrals onward to a dermatologist if the lesions are unusually atypical, widespread, or in patients with significant immune compromise where a dermatology opinion adds value.
Active lesions can transmit to partners through skin-to-skin sexual contact, so the safest approach during active anogenital molluscum is to avoid sexual contact, or to cover lesions with a condom or barrier (recognising condoms only cover part of the area at risk). Once lesions have fully resolved and no new ones have appeared for 4 weeks, transmission risk has effectively ended. The Specialist GP works through the practical advice at the consult based on your specific situation.
