The present invention relates to 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 comprise an anionic or amphoteric surfactant, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a stereoisomer thereof, wherein the surfactant further comprises: 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.
