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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
Molluscum contagiosum results in raised, round, flesh-colored bumps (papules) on the skin. The papules:
- Are small — typically about 1/16 inch to 3/16 inch (about 2 to 5 millimeters) in diameter
- Characteristically have a small indentation or dot at their top
- Can become red and inflamed
- Can be easily removed by scratching or rubbing them, but this spreads the virus to adjacent skin
In children, the papules typically appear on the face, neck, armpits, hands and arms. In adults, molluscum contagiosum may be a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and is usually seen on the genitals, lower abdomen, inner upper thighs and buttocks.
The disorder doesn't lead to serious illness and isn't related to genital warts, which are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). However, adults with genital molluscum should be screened for other STDs.
