Molluscum contagiosum in herpes zoster scars

A 29-year-old white woman was seen for the evaluation of an eruption on her neck and shoulder. She was being treated for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (blood CD4+ lymphocyte count, 187 cells/muL) with saquinavir, ritonavir, and nevirapine antiretroviral therapy. Two months previously, she had suffered from herpes zoster. The new lesions were located exclusively on the site of the herpes zoster scars. Clinical examination revealed slightly hypertrophic and hypochromic cicatricial lesions on the left cervical (c3, c4, c5) dermatome; in this area, there were many skin-colored, umbilicated, isolated, 1-2 mm papules (Fig. 1). Histopathology of a papule showed changes typical of molluscum contagiosum (Fig. 2). The patient was treated with local application of 70% trichloroacetic acid with excellent results (Fig. 3). The lesions did not recur after 6 months of follow-up.