Molluscum Contagiosum facts

What is Molluscum Contagiosum

Molluscum Contagiosum is caused by a virus that infects the skin. It can be passed from one person to another during sex, but it can spread by skin to skin contact or contact with an object with the virus on it.

How Molluscum spreads

Molluscum can be passed from one person to another during sex or, more commonly, through other close skin to skin contact, such as occurs in wrestling or close nonsexual contact. It is also possible for it to be passed by persons sharing towels or washcloths. It’s commonly found in people that exercise in gyms and people who ride bicycles a lot.

Symptoms of Molluscum

• Several smooth, firm, rounded bumps with a dimple in the center, which appear on the thighs, genitals, buttocks, below the waist, and in the pubic hair.
• Bumps are generally skin colored.

How to treat Molluscum

• One treatment is liquid nitrogen (a very cold gas) that may be used to treat the bumps. There is also a prescription that your clinician can give you to treat them at home.
• You may need to come back to the clinic more than once to get rid of the bumps.
• It is not necessary to do any treatment. The Molluscum virus does not cause any side effects or complications. It will go away by itself without any treatment, usually after several months.
• Avoid shaving until symptoms have cleared completely.

This information is provided by San Francisco City Clinic.

Visit our homepage at sf.gov/cityclinic.

Information last revised January 2024