Middlesex-London Health Unit

What is Molluscum Contagiosum?

Molluscum Contagiosum is a viral skin infection that causes raised bumps, or lesions. The lesions can vary in size from tiny to quite large and are flesh colored, donut-shaped and can appear anywhere on the body.

1. Sexual contact (oral, anal, vaginal or skin to skin contact) with someone that has a lesion.
2. Nonsexual methods, include:

• Tanning beds
• Sharing towels
• Baths or hot tubs

• Scratching can spread lesions to other areas of the body
• Shaving can also spread lesions.

• A bump or lesion will usually appear about 2 to 3 months after coming in contact with infectious material. Lesions can sometimes appear as early as 7 days or as late as six months after contact.
• May have one or many lesions
• Lesions in adults may appear on the lower abdomen, thighs, legs, genitals or buttocks.
• Lesions in children are often located on the face, upper body, and arms.

Usually molluscum contagiosum is easily identified by looking at it

Treatment is important because it can help reduce the spread of the lesions on a person’s body and to other people.

Bumps or lesions can be treated with cryotherapy: a procedure in which the lesions are "frozen" off with liquid nitrogen.

No

Without treatment it can continue for up to two years

No long term consequences

Since molluscum contagiosum can be spread through skin to skin contact, condoms do not provide protection from lesions on the thighs, legs, buttocks and some areas of the genitals (depending on where the lesions are).