HealthInfo Canterbury
Molluscum contagiosum
Molluscum contagiosum is a common viral skin infection.
While people of any age can get it, it mainly affects tamariki (children) under 10 years old.
Molluscum contagiosum is harmless but can be passed on to other people. It's spread through touching an infected person's skin or sharing items such as towels, flannels and toys.
Symptoms of molluscum contagiosum
Molluscum contagiosum causes groups of small (2 to 6 mm), hard, skin-coloured, raised spots (like tiny domes) on the skin. They can look shiny and waxy with a small central pore. They're normally painless but can be itchy or sore if they become inflamed.
The spots can be on any part of the body but they're most commonly found in the armpit, behind the knee or in the groin.
Treating molluscum contagiosum
Generally, the spots go away by themselves, but this can take from six to 24 months. Sometimes they're removed by freezing or applying wart treatments.
Preventing the spread of molluscum contagiosum
- Encourage your tamaiti (child) to wash their hands regularly.
- Encourage your tamaiti child to avoid touching the spots as much as possible.
- Keep your child's nails short and try to discourage them from scratching.
- Don't share towels, flannels, clothing or other personal objects such as toys.
- Don't squeeze the spots – as well as increasing the risk of the infection spreading, this can also cause pain and further infections.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- DermNet NZ – Molluscum contagiosum
This page explains what molluscum contagiosum is, how you catch it and how it's treated. The page includes photographs.
- NHS – Molluscum contagiosum
This page has information about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of molluscum contagiosum.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed November 2021.
SourcesReview key: HIMOC-110748
