Is Molluscum Contagiosum an STI and How Do You Avoid It?
Key takeaways:
Molluscum contagiosum is a contagious skin infection that causes small bumps on the body.
It’s most common in young children, but it can occur in adults. It can be passed through skin-to-skin contact during sex.
The bumps can go away on their own, but they can be treated with medications or removed by a dermatologist.
Table of contents
The molluscum contagiosum virus is a contagious virus that causes a bumpy rash. It’s common in children, who get it through everyday contact with other children.
But it can spread through skin-to-skin contact during sex. In people who are sexually active, it can be considered a sexually transmitted infection (STI) when bumps develop in the genital area.
But since people of any age can pick up molluscum contagiosum without having sex, it’s not considered an STI in the same way as other STIs, like chlamydia or gonorrhea.
Molluscum contagiosum bumps eventually go away on their own. But there are treatments to help you get rid of them faster.
Learn what molluscum contagiosum looks like, how to lower your chance of getting it, and how to treat it.
What are the symptoms of molluscum contagiosum?
Molluscum contagiosum causes small bumps on the skin. They tend to show up in the groin, thighs, buttocks, and lower abdomen if transmitted during sex.
Molluscum contagiosum is common in children: Learn what it looks like and how to treat it in children.
Can other STIs cause bumps? Yes. Learn the symptoms of common STIs.
Is it molluscum or a wart? Here’s what warts look like and how to get rid of them.
The bumps tend to go through different stages, and may look slightly different as they progress. Here’s what they may look and feel like:
At first, they are small and firm; they can be pink, flesh-colored, or white.
As they develop, they can become dome-shaped and have a dimple or indent in the center.
People with a weakened immune system can develop larger bumps and many bumps.
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Molluscum normally gets better on its own, but it can take up to a year for the bumps to go away if they’re not treated.
How does molluscum contagiosum spread?
The molluscum contagiosum virus is very contagious. It spreads from person to person through physical contact. If your sexual partner has a molluscum rash, having skin-to-skin contact can pass the virus to you. You can also get it from touching things that the virus has come in contact with, like clothing or sheets.
The bumps may not show up for 2 to 8 weeks after you were exposed to the virus, so it may be hard to know where you got it from.
Other groups at risk for getting molluscum include:
Adults, teens, and children who play contact sports
People who tend to share towels and equipment
Children, who tend to have a lot of physical contact with other children during normal play. They also share a lot of toys and objects.
People with weakened immune systems, like people with HIV, or people being treated for cancer
How is molluscum contagiosum treated ?
The molluscum rash will eventually go away as the immune system fights off the virus. But you may choose to get the bumps treated because they can take up to a year on their own.
A dermatologist can remove them using medications, scraping, or cold therapy. Which treatment they recommend is based on factors like:
The number of bumps you have
Where they’re located
How fast you want to get rid of them
Your overall health
Cost (some are more expensive than others
In people who have weakened immune systems, other treatments that target the immune system may be needed.
It’s important not to try to treat them yourself. This may cause a skin infection or for the virus to spread.
Treatments include:
Cantharidin (Ycanth): Cantharidin is the only FDA-approved treatment for molluscum. Your dermatologist applies a liquid to the bumps, and you wash it off 2 to 4 hours later. It causes a blister, and when the blister heals, the bump goes away. You may need several in-office treatments.
Cryosurgery: Your dermatologist will numb your skin with a numbing solution. Then they’ll spray liquid nitrogen on the bump to freeze it, causing it to fall off.
Curettage: After numbing your skin, your dermatologist uses a device to scrape away the bump. It may cause a little bleeding.
There are other medications and treatments that your dermatologist might recommend.
Does molluscum contagiosum come back?
New bumps may appear for several months after others have faded away. This cycle can last from 6 to 18 months before the immune system completely fights off the virus. In some people, it can last longer.
How can you prevent the spread of molluscum contagiosum?
You can reduce your risk of getting molluscum contagiosum by following these guidelines:
Avoid sexual activity and skin-to-skin contact with someone you know has a molluscum rash. Wait until the bumps are removed or go away on their own.
Avoid touching the clothes, sheets, or other shared objects of someone who has molluscum.
Don’t scratch or touch lesions. Picking and scratching can spread the virus to other parts of your body.
Avoid shaving areas with lesions as this can spread the bumps.
Keep bumps covered. Protecting the bumps with clothing reduces the risk of exposing others.
Don’t share at the gym. Don’t share towels, gear, clothing, or other personal items with anyone else.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Sexual activity isn’t the only way to get the virus on your skin. It can happen by touching someone’s skin if they have the rash or coming in contact with an object that someone who has molluscum touched. This can happen at the gym if you share objects like clothing or towels.
Babies and young children are most likely to get molluscum. That’s mainly because they tend to have a lot of physical contact with other children during play. And they often share objects and toys.
There are some anecdotes and reports of catching molluscum contagiosum from swimming pools. But there’s no evidence that the virus passes through pool water. It’s more likely that people at pools have shared towels or pool toys with a person who has the infection.
The bottom line
Molluscum contagiosum is a viral skin infection that’s spread by skin-to-skin contact. It’s spread by touching the rash on the skin or by touching clothing, sheets, or objects that someone with the infection has touched. Molluscum is most common in children. It can be considered a sexually transmitted infection if it’s spread through sexual contact. The bumps can go away on their own, but it often takes 6 months or more. They can be treated with topical medications or removed by your dermatologist.
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References
American Academy of Dermatology Association. (n.d.). Molluscum contagiosum: Signs and symptoms.
American Academy of Dermatology Association. (n.d.). Molluscum contagiosum: Who gets and causes.
American Academy of Dermatology Association. (2023). Molluscum contagiosum: Diagnosis and treatment.
American Sexual Health Association. (n.d.). Molluscum: Fast facts.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). About molluscum contagiosum.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Clinical overview of molluscum contagiosum.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Molluscum contagiosum in schools, daycares, and pools.
Hebert, A. A., et al. (2023). Molluscum contagiosum: Epidemiology, considerations, treatment options, and therapeutic gaps. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). FDA approves first treatment for molluscum contagiosum.
