Tag: Cantharidin

Cantharidin, a potent medication, has been used in medicine for over 2,000 years, and its nickname, **Beetlejuice**, comes from its insect-based origin. The topical treatment is derived from the defense secretions of blister beetles, which have a long and complex history in both folk medicine and modern dermatology.

Cantharidin, a substance derived from the blister beetle, is known for its potent blistering properties and has a long history in dermatology. Given its power and potential dangers, many people ask: can you buy cantharidin OTC? The definitive answer is no; it is a strictly controlled, prescription-only medication that must be applied by a trained healthcare professional.

Cantharidin, a topical treatment for warts and molluscum, causes a controlled, superficial blister to form underneath a treated lesion within 24 to 48 hours. This blister formation is the definitive sign that cantharidin is working and the treatment process is underway. The subsequent shedding of the lesion with the blister indicates that the medication has successfully prompted the body to remove the unwanted skin growth.

Affecting approximately 6 million people in the U.S., primarily children, molluscum contagiosum now has its first FDA-approved treatment [1.6.3]. So, do you need a prescription for cantharidin, the active ingredient in this treatment? The answer is unequivocally yes.

For decades, cantharidin was considered too dangerous and unproven for widespread FDA approval, a status stemming from its origin as a potent blister beetle poison and historical failures to provide sufficient efficacy data. In a significant turn of events, a specific topical formulation of cantharidin, Ycanth, received FDA approval in July 2023, rewriting the narrative around why cantharidin was not FDA approved for so long.

Cantharidin, a compound originally derived from blister beetles, is used in dermatology to treat warts and molluscum contagiosum by causing a blister. A key aspect of its therapeutic action is its potent vesicant property, which is also the primary reason why is cantharidin so painful for many patients following the initial, painless application.