What are the symptoms of molluscum contagiosum?
Symptoms of molluscum contagiosum range from mild to severe and include:
- Small, pimple-like bump (papule), lesion or wart on your skin (2 to 5 millimeters).
- Papule is white, the same color as your natural skin tone or pink to purple.
- Papule has a small indent (dimple) in the center.
- Papule is firm but can become soft over time.
- Papule can drain a clear to white fluid.
- Itchy skin.
Scratching the papule on your skin causes it to spread. This causes:
- Multiple papules form in a line or cluster (crops or rash) near the area of the original papule.
- The skin around the papules swells (inflammation), gets bigger and turns red to purple.
- The papules become painful.
Among people who have eczema, AIDS or other conditions that affect their immune system, the lesions associated with molluscum contagiosum can grow larger than 5 mm (giant molluscum contagiosum).
Where do symptoms of molluscum contagiosum form on my body?
Papules from a molluscum contagiosum infection can form anywhere on your body but are most common on your:
- Face (eyelids, lips).
- Neck.
- Arms.
- Legs.
- Genitals (penis, vagin*, vulva).
- Abdomen.
- Inner thighs.
Advertisem*nt
What causes molluscum contagiosum?
The molluscum contagiosum virus, which is a virus of the poxvirus family, causes molluscum contagiosum. When this virus enters your body, bumps or spots (papules) appear on your skin. These papules can spread to other areas of your skin and other people (contagious).
Is molluscum contagiosum contagious?
Yes, molluscum contagiosum is contagious. The virus that causes this infection spreads through:
- Close physical contact (skin to skin).
- Touching contaminated objects (clothing, towels, toys).
- Sexual contact.
The exact time that you’re contagious is unknown, but studies suggest you could be contagious and spread the virus until the papules leave your skin.
Is molluscum contagiosum sexually transmitted?
Yes, molluscum contagiosum can be considered a sexually transmitted infection (STI). The virus that causes the condition can spread through close personal contact, which includes sexual contact. Symptoms can form on your genitals. But it's more commonly spread through casual contact.
