What is molluscum contagiosum?
Molluscum contagiosum is a skin infection that causes small pink or white dome-shaped bumps with a dimple in the center.
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Molluscum contagiosum is caused by a virus (poxvirus) and spreads easily from person to person
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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
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Molluscum contagiosum is common in children
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People with a weak immune system (such as people with HIV/AIDS) can have more severe infections
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The bumps usually go away on their own in a year or two, but can last up to 3 years
What are the symptoms of molluscum contagiosum?
The main symptom is:
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.
