Korean J Dermatol.
1970 Jul;8(2):37-40.
Topical Treatment of Verrucae and Molluscum Contagiosum with Cantharidin
Abstract
- The pathologic changes of verrucae and molluscum contagiosum are limitted chiefly to epidermis, therefore treatment with cantharidin which forms acantholytic bulla is successful. Canthrides is dried, powdered blister beetle, and cantharidin is its purified active ingredient. Its primary cutaneous effect is acantholysis and death of epidermal cells. For topical treatment, catharidin was prepared as a 0.9% solution in mixture of 50% of acetone, 25% of ether and 25% flexibIe collodion U.S.P. The therapeutic efficacy of cantharidin was excellent to eliminate the lesions of verrucae and molluscum contagiosum, showing the complete recovery of 114 out of 117 lesions of verrucae, and 520 out of 550 lesions of molluscum contagiosum with 1 to 3 topical applications. From the above results, it should be pointed out that cantharidin has the several advantages at clinical uses for the treatment of verrucae and molluscum contagiosum: 1 No residual scarring. 2. No pain. 3. Excellent therapeut!c efficacy.
