Disclosed is a surfactant, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a stereoisomer thereof, and a composition including the surfactant, for post infection treatment of a double stranded DNA skin virus from the Herpesviridae or Papillomaviridae families. The composition may include an anionic or amphoteric surfactant, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a stereoisomer thereof, wherein the surfactant further includes: a hydrophilic moiety selected from the group consisting of a carbonate, a sulfonate, and a sulfate; a polyol compound and/or a cross-linked polyacrylate polymer, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. Methods of using the surfactant and composition are also disclosed.