Tag: Molluscum contagiosum

Cantharidin is a powerful vesicant derived from the blister beetle, and its medicinal use dates back centuries. When asking about the ingredients in cantharidin, the answer depends on the specific formulation—some contain only the active compound, while others are compounded with additional agents for enhanced effectiveness.

The list price for the FDA-approved brand-name product, YCANTH, was $685 per applicator as of July 2023, though this is not the price most patients will pay out of pocket. The answer to **how much does cantharidin solution cost?** depends heavily on whether you receive the brand-name product, a compounded version from a specialty pharmacy, or an older formula like Cantharone.

While the list price, or Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC), for a single Ycanth (cantharidin) applicator was $685 as of July 2023, the actual amount a patient pays varies dramatically based on their insurance coverage, deductible status, and eligibility for assistance programs. Understanding how much does Ycanth cantharidin cost requires looking beyond the sticker price and exploring the available financial support options.

Used for over 2,000 years in traditional medicine and associated with dangerous folk practices, cantharidin is a powerful chemical with a long history. Today, when correctly applied by a medical professional, it is a safe and effective topical treatment for common dermatological conditions. For many, a more familiar moniker is used, and the answer to *what is the common name for cantharidin?* is not a simple one, encompassing a colorful past and a clinical present.

Cantharidin, a potent blistering agent derived from blister beetles, has been used medicinally for over 2,000 years. While often used interchangeably in discussion, it's vital to understand the difference between the active ingredient cantharidin and the brand-name product Cantharone, which was historically used to deliver it.

Molluscum contagiosum is a common viral skin infection, especially in children, that often resolves on its own within months. A primary concern for many patients and caregivers is whether medication can speed up recovery, leading them to ask, **does mupirocin treat molluscum**? It is a critical distinction to understand, as antibiotics like mupirocin have no effect against viruses.

Derived from the roots of the *Podophyllum* plant, podophyllotoxin is a potent compound used primarily in topical medications to treat specific dermatological conditions. It is the purified active ingredient in commercial preparations and is valued for its effective antimitotic and antiviral properties.

First approved by the FDA in 2023, Ycanth (cantharidin) is a brand-name prescription medication, and there is currently no generic product available in the United States. This means that while cantharidin is the active ingredient, patients cannot obtain a therapeutically equivalent, generic version on the U.S. market.

Molluscum contagiosum, a highly contagious viral skin condition, affects an estimated 16.7 million people in the United States annually, with a significant number being children. Zelsuvmi (berdazimer) is the first and only FDA-approved at-home topical prescription gel used to treat the lesions caused by this viral infection in adults and pediatric patients aged one year and older.

According to dermatology records, cantharidin has been used as a topical vesicant for treating benign epithelial growths since the 1950s. This long history leads many to ask: Is cantharone the same as cantharidin?