Molluscum Contagiosum

Molluscum Contagiosum on a Child’s Face

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© Springer Science+Business Media

Molluscum contagiosum is a skin infection that causes small pink or white dome-shaped bumps with a dimple in the center.

• Molluscum contagiosum is caused by a virus and spreads easily from person to person

• You can get molluscum contagiosum by touching an infected person’s skin, touching something after an infected person touched it, or in water, such as swimming pools

• Molluscum contagiosum is common in children

• People with a weak immune system (such as people with HIV/AIDS) can have more severe infections

• The bumps usually go away on their own in a year or two, but can last up to 3 years

The main symptom is:

• Pink or white painless bumps less than a quarter inch (about 0.2 to 0.5 centimeters) across that are shaped like a dome with a dimple in the center

The bumps may get very red and itchy—sometimes this happens when they are about to go away. But if you scratch them, you can get more of them by spreading the virus on the skin around the bumps.

You can get bumps anywhere on your skin except the palms of your hands and bottoms of your feet.

• Children with molluscum contagiosum often have bumps on their face, neck, chest, and armpits

• Adults often have bumps on their penis, vulva, or on their thighs and lower part of their belly

Doctors usually don’t treat molluscum contagiosum because it goes away on its own in a year or two. But it can be treated if the bumps bother you. If you're an adult with bumps near your genitals, you should have them treated so you don’t spread them to sex partners.

Doctors may:

• Remove them by freezing

• Burn them with a laser or electric current

• Remove the core of the bumps with a needle and scrape them off

• Give you medicine as a cream to apply

Cover bumps on children (for example with a bandage) so the bumps won't spread to others. Your child can still attend school or child care.

To keep molluscum contagiosum from spreading to other people:

• Wash your hands often

• Don't let anyone use your towel or other personal things

• Keep bumps covered with a bandage, especially when you'll be in close contact with others