Bumps on the skin can be the only sign that a person has molluscum contagiosum. These bumps often appear about 7 weeks after being exposed to the virus that causes molluscum. Sometimes, the bumps do not appear for many months.

When the bumps appear on the skin, they often:

• Begin as small, firm, dome-shaped growths
• Have a surface that feels smooth, waxy, or pearly
• Are flesh-colored or pink
• Have a dimple in the center. The dimple may be filled with a thick, white substance that is cheesy or waxy
• Are painless, but some bumps itch
• Turn red as the person’s immune system fights the virus

They can appear on other areas of the body after a person scratches or picks the bumps. Scratching or picking can spread the virus.

In adults, the bumps often appear on the face, neck, armpits, arms, and hands. Other common places for bumps to appear are the genitals, abdomen, and inner thighs. Adults often get molluscum contagiosum through sexual contact.

If a person has a disease that weakens the immune system, such as AIDS, the bumps can grow very large. A person may have 100 or more bumps on the face alone.

A virus causes molluscum. There are 2 ways to get this virus:

1. Touch something infected with the virus. You can get molluscum by using an infected towel. You can get it from touching infected clothing or toys. Wrestlers and gymnasts get it from touching infected mats.
2. Have direct skin-to-skin contact. Children often get molluscum because they have lots of direct skin-to-skin contact with others. People who participate in contact sports such as wrestling get molluscum from the direct skin-to-skin contact. Teens and adults often get the virus through sexual contact.

Once infected with the virus, a person can spread the virus to other parts of the body. Scratching or picking at bumps on the skin and then touching skin that does not have bumps can spread the virus and cause new bumps. Your dermatologist may call this self-re-infection.

This skin disease is most often seen in children. People who live in a tropical climate also are more likely to get molluscum. The virus thrives in a warm, humid place. Having atopic dermatitis, the most common type of eczema also increases the risk of getting molluscum contagiosum.

When a person has a weak immune system due to a medical condition such as AIDS or treatment for cancer, the person can get a serious case of molluscum contagiosum.

When a child gets this skin condition, researchers have found that the skin often clears on its own. Clearing takes about 12 to 18 months. In many cases, children are not treated because treatment can have unwanted side effects for a child.

While molluscum can clear on its own, treatment has benefits.

Treatment helps to prevent the virus that causes molluscum from:

• Spreading to other parts of your body
• Infecting other people
• Growing out of control in people who have a weakened immune system

For each patient, a dermatologist considers whether treatment is appropriate.

If treatment is recommended, your treatment plan may include procedures and/or medication

Your dermatologist can perform the following procedures during an office visit:

• Cryosurgery: The dermatologist freezes the bumps with liquid nitrogen.
• Curettage: The dermatologist uses a small tool called a curette to scrape the bumps from the skin.
• Laser surgery: A dermatologist uses a laser to target and destroy the bumps. This can be an effective treatment for people who have a weakened immune system.
• Topical (applied to the skin) therapy: Your dermatologist can apply various acids and blistering solutions to destroy the bumps. These work by destroying the top layers of the skin. Tricholoracetic acid is often used to treat people who have a weak immune system and many bumps.

When a patient has many bumps or large bumps, a dermatologist may need to repeat a procedure every 3 to 6 weeks until the bumps disappear. These procedures cause some discomfort.

Medication you apply at home:

• Your dermatologist may prescribe a retinoid or antiviral medicine. You would apply the medication to the bumps as instructed.

While treating molluscum, it is normal for new bumps to appear as others fade.