Molluscum Contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is a common, harmless viral skin infection in children that causes small, firm bumps — many with a tiny dimple in the center. Despite how stubborn it can look, it isn't dangerous and clears on its own. But because it spreads easily from scratching and skin contact, it's worth knowing how to limit it and when a bump needs a closer look.
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If you believe your child is experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Symptoms

If your child has a cluster of small, dome-shaped bumps — many with a tiny dimple in the middle — molluscum contagiosum is a likely cause. It's very common in young children, especially between 1 and 10 years old, and spreads easily in households and group care.

Molluscum is caused by the molluscum contagiosum virus, a member of the poxvirus family. After contact, bumps usually appear a few weeks to a couple of months later and often keep showing up in crops as the infection runs its course — which is why new bumps can appear while older ones are fading.

Here are the common signs and symptoms of molluscum in children:

  • Small, dome-shaped bumps — Firm, raised papules, usually 1-5 mm across (roughly the size of a pinhead to a pencil-eraser tip).
  • A central dimple — Many bumps have a tiny sunken center, sometimes with a white, waxy core — the most telltale sign.
  • Flesh-colored, pink, or pearly — Bumps may look skin-colored, pink, or shiny and white.
  • Clusters or lines — They appear alone or in groups; scratching can spread them into a row or line (called autoinoculation).
  • Common locations — Bumps usually appear on the trunk, arms, legs, face, and skin folds such as the armpit, behind the knees, and the groin. They rarely appear on the palms or soles.
  • Usually not painful — Most bumps don't hurt, though some children have mild itching.
  • Irritated skin around bumps — A patch of red, dry, eczema-like skin (molluscum dermatitis) can develop around them.

What molluscum looks like by age

  • Infants and toddlers — Bumps often appear on the trunk, face, and in the folds or diaper area. A baby with eczema may develop more of them.
  • Older children — Commonly on the arms, legs, and torso, and may spread to areas that are scratched. Healthy children usually have fewer than about 20 bumps.

Is it molluscum or something else?

A few skin conditions can look similar at first. Knowing the difference helps you describe it when you call:

ConditionWhat it's likeKey difference
Molluscum contagiosumFirm, dome-shaped bumps with a central dimple; few to manyThe tiny central dimple; usually not itchy or painful
Common wartsRough, raised, cauliflower-like growthsRough surface and no central dimple
ChickenpoxItchy blisters spreading all over the body with feverWidespread and very itchy, with fever; crusts over
MiliaTiny firm white bumps, common in babiesPinpoint and white, no dimple; clear on their own

Other factors: the two things to keep an eye on are spread and location. Scratching moves the virus to new skin, and bumps on or near the eyelid can irritate the eye.

When to seek care

Molluscum contagiosum is a harmless viral skin infection that clears on its own, usually over several months. There's no medicine that cures it, and treatment is optional — focused on limiting spread or clearing bothersome bumps. Because urgent problems come first, here's when to seek care, then the everyday plan.

Seek care now

Most molluscum is harmless. Call us or seek urgent care if your child:

• Has bumps on or near the eyelid with a red, watery, or irritated eye.

• Has bumps that turn increasingly red, warm, swollen, painful, or ooze pus (a possible skin infection).

• Has widespread, very large, or rapidly increasing bumps, especially with a weakened immune system.

• Has bumps in the genital area.

• Has bumps you're not sure about. A clinician can confirm if they're molluscum.

The everyday plan

For a typical case, two things matter most:

Leave the bumps alone and let them clear. Watchful waiting is a reasonable choice. Molluscum resolves on its own, and it's normal for new bumps to appear while older ones fade. Cover bumps and discourage scratching to limit spread.

Decide with your clinician whether to treat. Treatment can limit spread or clear bumps in bothersome spots. In-office options include cantharidin (Ycanth), cryotherapy (freezing), and curettage (scraping); an at-home option, berdazimer gel (Zelsuvmi), is applied daily for up to 12 weeks. Removal can occasionally sting, scar, or change skin color, so not every bump needs treating.

What to expect

Weeks to months — New bumps may appear and spread while the immune system responds. This is normal and doesn't mean treatment is failing.

Before clearing — Bumps often turn red, swollen, and tender for a while. This is usually a sign the body is fighting the virus, not necessarily a sign of infection.

6 months to 2 years — Most cases clear on their own; some take longer, especially with eczema or a weakened immune system.

 

Contagiousness and returning to school

Molluscum spreads through skin-to-skin contact, shared items (towels, toys, bath sponges), and scratching that carries the virus to new skin. Per CDC guidance, children don't need to stay home from school or daycare, and they can swim — just cover bumps with clothing or a waterproof bandage, avoid sharing towels and equipment, and skip shared baths when possible. When in doubt, call us and check your childcare provider's policy.

At-home Care

For a child with molluscum who doesn't need urgent care, these steps keep them comfortable and help stop the bumps from spreading:

Comfort and containment steps

  1. Don't pick, pop, or scratch. Squeezing spreads the virus to new skin and raises the risk of infection and scarring.
  2. Keep bumps covered. Clothing or a waterproof bandage during school, sports, and swimming limits spread.
  3. Wash hands often. Keep hands clean, especially after touching or treating the bumps, to avoid spreading the virus to other spots or people.
  4. Don't share personal items. Towels, washcloths, clothing, and bath toys can carry the virus; avoid shared baths when you can.
  5. Soothe itch and dry skin. A fragrance-free moisturizer helps. If your child has eczema, keeping it well controlled reduces spread.
  6. Keep fingernails short. Short nails mean less scratching — and less spread.

Product and safety notes

Don't try to remove bumps at home. Freezing, burning, digging, or squeezing can scar the skin, spread the virus, and cause infection. Over-the-counter “molluscum” creams and home remedies have mixed evidence. Check with your pediatrician before using any product, especially on the face. Never put wart removers, acids, or duct-tape kits near the eyes, and don't use them on the eyelids. Keep any prescribed treatment out of reach and up high. For a suspected ingestion, call Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222.

 

These steps are for comfort and preventing spread only — they never replace the When to seek care guidance above. If bumps land near the eye, start to look infected, or you're unsure what they are, call us.

FAQs answered by a pediatric expert

James Bakerink, MD

Answered by James Bakerink, MD

Pediatrics

Will molluscum go away on its own?
How long does molluscum contagiosum last?
Is molluscum contagious, and how do I stop it from spreading?
Can I pop or squeeze my child's molluscum bumps?
Do molluscum bumps itch?
Can my child swim or share baths with molluscum?
Can my child get molluscum again after it clears?
Is molluscum contagiosum dangerous?
James Bakerink, MD

Clinically Reviewed By:

James Bakerink, MD

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