Molluscum Contagiosum develops small bumps, size 1-10 milimeters that look like lumps, moles or pearls.

They are round, white and shiny papules with a dimple in the center, which contain a thick material, the particle of molluscum. Many parents mistakenly take Molluscum Contagiosum for warts or staphylococcus.

Initially Molluscum Contagiosum appears as a small bump of few mm (1-10 mm) in the color of the skin and soft. Then it grows and becomes harder. Within 6-9 months the papules subside (self healing), but sometimes they persist for years.

Every papule lives for about 2 months, but because of the contagiousness from one point to another on the same person, the infection can last up to 2 years. Because it is easily transmitted, especially if a child suffers from atopic dermatitis , it must be treated.

Molluscum Contagiosum «loves» warm and moist areas. In children the bumps appear mainly on the face, the body and the limps. The disease appears worse in children with eczema.

In adults the bumps appear mainly around the genitals, the inner thighs, the anus, the armpits and the belly. The virus also affects the area around the eyes (the outer part of the eye).

The bumps usually appear on the points of friction with the clothes, as in the neck, armpits and the body, but also on the face, hands, legs and genitals.

The Molluscum Contagiosum bumps usually do not cause any pain unless they are contaminated or debelop inflammation. They can be itchy though. At 10% of the cases an eczema may develop around the lesions. They can also bleed from their center. The lesion is limited on the upper layer of the skin.