Methods Of Treating And Preventing Molluscum Contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is a contagious skin infection caused by a virus. It is most commonly diagnosed in children and in adults with compromised immune systems. The virus produces clusters of painless and firm pink or flesh-colored bumps. Sometimes, the bumps may be itchy. Typically, most patients develop between ten and twenty bumps, and scratching these may cause additional bumps to form in the surrounding areas. This infection can occur anywhere on the body, and the virus can be transferred to other individuals through skin-to-skin contact and through touching objects used in an infected area. Doctors can normally diagnose molluscum contagiosum with a physical exam and visual inspection, and occasionally, a biopsy may be taken. While the bumps generally go away on their own without treatment, it can take up to a year for them to fade. For patients with conditions that weaken the immune system, the bumps will not resolve if left untreated.