[Mollusca contagiosa--review and critical evaluation of a new form of therapy (author's transl)].

The present state of knowledge of the clinical features and therapy of molluscum contagiosum is reviewed. Treatment with retinoic acid, applied topically, is evaluated on the basis of 15 cases. In the majority of patients the lesions cleared up within an average of 8.9 days. This therapy is contraindicated only in patients with a disposition to develop eczema. This form of therapy appears to be superior to all those in common use up to the present date, especially in children with multiple or recurrent lesions.