Thrifted clothes and viral skin lesions: Coincidence or clinical clue?
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“While thankfully rare in my experience, it would not surprise me that someone could have caught molluscum from clothing that had the virus on it.” — Joseph Zahn, MD, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at George Washington University in St. Louis
A TikTok user from Indonesia has gone viral after claiming he contracted a skin infection—molluscum contagiosum—from thrift store clothing.[]
While the source of infection can’t be independently verified, the theory isn’t implausible. Molluscum spreads via direct contact or through contaminated items like towels, toys, and yes—potentially clothing.
“Molluscum can spread from person to person by touch or by touching items that have the virus on them,” Joseph Zahn, MD, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at George Washington University, tells MDLinx. “While thankfully rare in my experience, it would not surprise me that someone could have caught molluscum from clothing that had the virus on it.”
Symptom explainer
According to Dr. Zahn, molluscum contagiosum is a common viral infection that primarily affects children between the ages of 1 and 10. It can cause small raised lesions on the body that may occur in isolation or in groups. In healthy patients, the condition often resolves without treatment.
The lesions typically go away within 6 months to 1 year and don’t leave scars, but in some people this may take longer. In people who have lesions around the genital area, treatment is recommended.[]
The lesions may be the size of the eraser on a pencil at their largest or as small as a pinhead. They may have a white or pink appearance or may be the same color as the skin. They can appear anywhere on the body, but rarely occur on the soles of the feet or the palms of the hands. The lesions can sometimes have a dip in their center and can feel firm to the touch. They may be swollen, sore, or itchy.[]
Can secondhand clothes actually put your health at risk?
“As molluscum spreads through contact with the virus, transmission through items of clothing or towels is possible,” Dr. Zahn says. “In general, washing your hands and avoiding sharing clothes, as well as washing newly purchased clothing, may help reduce the spread of molluscum.” According to the CDC, among adults, molluscum may also be spread through sexual contact.[]
This isn’t the only infection secondhand-clothes shopping (aka thrifting) puts patients at risk of—other doctors and patients on TikTok highlight risks of things like hand, foot, and mouth disease and scabies.
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