Molluscum Contagiosum in Adults: Symptoms and Treatment

Medically reviewed by the HyaluFlow Health Editorial Team | Published: August 11, 2026 | Updated: August 11, 2026

Quick Answer

Molluscum contagiosum is a contagious viral skin infection that causes small, smooth bumps, often with a central indentation.

It can spread through direct skin contact, contaminated personal items, and scratching of existing lesions. Most healthy people eventually clear the infection without treatment, although this can take months. [1,2]

Key Takeaways

• Molluscum contagiosum is caused by the molluscum contagiosum virus.
• The infection produces small, firm, smooth bumps on the skin.
• Many lesions have a characteristic central indentation.
• Molluscum spreads through skin-to-skin contact and contaminated objects.
• Scratching can spread lesions to other areas of the body.
• Most healthy people eventually clear the infection naturally.
• Some cases can persist for 18 months or longer.
• Treatment may be useful for persistent, bothersome, infected, genital, or extensive lesions.
• Self-removal can increase the risk of infection, spreading, and scarring.

What Is Molluscum Contagiosum?

Molluscum contagiosum is a viral infection caused by the molluscum contagiosum virus, a member of the poxvirus family.

It affects the skin and usually produces multiple small, raised lesions called mollusca. The infection is generally mild in people with healthy immune systems. [1,2]

Molluscum can affect people of any age, although it is particularly common among children. Adults can also develop it, especially after close skin-to-skin contact. [2]

What Does Molluscum Look Like?

The typical lesion is small, firm, smooth, and flesh-colored, pink, or pearly white.

Many bumps have a small depression in the center, known as umbilication. This central indentation is one of the most recognizable clues to molluscum. [3]

Lesions can appear individually or in clusters.

They may develop on the arms, legs, torso, face, groin, or other areas of skin. They rarely affect the palms or soles. [3]

How Does Molluscum Contagiosum Spread?

Molluscum spreads when the virus reaches another person's skin through direct contact with an active lesion.

It can also spread through contaminated objects, including towels, clothing, sports equipment, and other personal items. [2]

Scratching or picking at a lesion can spread the virus to another area of the same person's body.

This process, called autoinoculation, can gradually increase the number of bumps. [2,4]

Can Adults Get Molluscum Contagiosum?

Yes. Molluscum is not limited to children, and adults can develop the infection as well.

In adults, lesions may occur after close physical or skin-to-skin contact. When bumps appear around the genital area, professional evaluation is especially important because several other conditions can look similar. [1,2]

A genital bump should not automatically be assumed to be molluscum.

A dermatologist or other qualified healthcare professional can determine whether the lesions are actually molluscum or another skin condition.

Is Molluscum Contagious?

Yes. Molluscum remains contagious while active lesions are present.

The virus can spread to other people or to additional areas of the body during this period. [2,4]

Covering lesions when practical, avoiding scratching, and not sharing personal items can help reduce transmission.

Good hand hygiene is also important, particularly after touching affected skin. [4]

How Long Does Molluscum Last?

Molluscum can take much longer to disappear than many people expect.

For many healthy people, the lesions clear within approximately 6 to 18 months without treatment, although some cases last considerably longer. [2,3]

New bumps can appear while older ones are disappearing.

That can make the infection seem persistent even while the immune system is gradually clearing it.

There is no reliable way to predict exactly when an individual's lesions will disappear.

Does Molluscum Need Treatment?

Not necessarily. For people with a healthy immune system, dermatologists may recommend allowing the infection to clear naturally. [1,2]

Treatment may be considered when lesions are painful, very itchy, repeatedly irritated, infected, extensive, cosmetically distressing, or located in the genital area.

People with weakened immune systems may also require medical treatment because molluscum can become more extensive or persistent. [2]

How Is Molluscum Contagiosum Treated?

Cantharidin

Cantharidin is a topical treatment that can be applied to individual molluscum lesions by a healthcare professional.

In the United States, YCANTH, a 0.7% cantharidin topical solution, is FDA-approved for treating molluscum contagiosum in adults and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older. [5,6]

Cantharidin causes a controlled blistering reaction that helps the treated lesion clear.

It should not be purchased online and applied without medical supervision because incorrect application can cause significant irritation, chemical injury, or scarring. [1,5]

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy uses extreme cold, usually liquid nitrogen, to destroy individual lesions.

It can work effectively, but discomfort and temporary skin changes can occur. Dermatologists may need to repeat treatment every few weeks until the lesions clear. [1]

Curettage

Curettage involves removing individual lesions with a medical instrument called a curette.

It can be effective, but because the procedure physically removes the lesion, it should be performed by a trained healthcare professional. [1]

Berdazimer Gel

Berdazimer gel is a prescription topical treatment for molluscum contagiosum.

It is FDA-approved for patients 1 year of age and older and is applied once daily for up to 12 weeks as directed by a healthcare professional. [1]

Other Treatment Options

Dermatologists may consider additional treatments depending on the number, location, duration, and severity of lesions.

The appropriate approach should be individualized rather than based on the most aggressive treatment available. [1,2]

What You Should Not Do

• Do not squeeze molluscum bumps.
• Do not cut or scrape them yourself.
• Do not repeatedly scratch affected skin.
• Do not share towels or personal grooming items.
• Do not shave directly over active lesions.
• Do not use unproven online molluscum treatments without medical advice.

Trying to remove the lesions yourself can spread the virus and damage the surrounding skin.

The FDA has warned about unapproved products marketed for molluscum, while dermatologists recommend professional guidance before using treatment products. [1,7]

How to Reduce the Spread

Preventing transmission starts with limiting contact with active lesions.

• Keep lesions clean and covered when practical.
• Wash your hands after touching affected skin.
• Avoid scratching and picking.
• Do not share towels, clothing, or personal items.
• Clean shared equipment and surfaces regularly.
• Avoid direct contact with active lesions.

These measures cannot eliminate transmission risk completely, but they can reduce opportunities for the virus to spread. [2,4]

Molluscum vs Other Skin Bumps

These conditions can sometimes look similar, particularly during the early stages.

A dermatologist can often diagnose molluscum by examining the lesions, although additional testing may occasionally be needed. [1,3]

Common Myths About Molluscum

Myth: Molluscum is just acne.

Fact: Molluscum is a viral infection and has characteristic lesions that differ from typical acne.

Myth: You should pop the bumps.

Fact: Squeezing or opening the lesions can spread the virus and increase the risk of skin damage or secondary infection. [4]

Myth: Everyone needs immediate treatment.

Fact: Many healthy people clear molluscum without treatment, although treatment can be appropriate in certain situations. [1,2]

Myth: A molluscum bump will disappear in a few days.

Fact: Natural clearance usually takes months, and some infections can persist much longer. [2,3]

Who Should See a Dermatologist?

See a healthcare professional if you are unsure whether new bumps are molluscum.

Evaluation is particularly important when lesions are spreading rapidly, painful, infected, persistent, or located around the genitals.

People with weakened immune systems should also seek medical advice because they can develop more extensive or persistent infections. [1,2]

What the Science Says

The evidence supports molluscum contagiosum as a generally self-limited viral skin infection in people with healthy immune systems.

Major dermatology guidance supports observation for many patients while recognizing that treatment can be appropriate for persistent, bothersome, genital, infected, or extensive disease. [1,2]

Treatment can remove visible lesions, but it does not guarantee that new lesions will not appear.

For that reason, management should focus on both appropriate treatment and reducing further spread. [1,4]

Evidence Strength Summary

Bottom Line

Molluscum contagiosum is a common viral skin infection that produces distinctive small bumps, often with a central indentation.

It can spread through skin-to-skin contact, contaminated objects, and scratching, but most healthy people eventually clear the infection.

Treatment is not always necessary, but persistent, extensive, infected, bothersome, or genital lesions deserve professional evaluation.

The smartest approach is simple: avoid picking, reduce contact with active lesions, and get a proper diagnosis before trying to remove unexplained bumps.

Medical References

1. American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD). Molluscum Contagiosum: Diagnosis and Treatment. Last updated March 10, 2025. Reviewed by Elaine T. Kaye, MD, FAAD; Elan Newman, MD, FAAD; and Brittany Oliver, MD, FAAD. Covers diagnosis, natural clearance, treatment indications, cantharidin, cryotherapy, curettage, berdazimer gel, and self-treatment risks.
2. American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD). Molluscum Contagiosum: Overview. Provides clinical information on transmission, contagiousness, affected populations, natural clearance, and when treatment may be appropriate.
3. American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD). Molluscum Contagiosum: Signs and Symptoms. Describes the characteristic appearance of molluscum lesions, including small firm bumps, central umbilication, typical locations, and the expected course of the infection.
4. American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD). Molluscum Contagiosum: Tips for Managing. Provides dermatologist guidance on preventing autoinoculation and transmission, including avoiding scratching, maintaining clean skin, hand hygiene, and avoiding self-removal.
5. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Ycanth (cantharidin) Topical Solution, 0.7%: NDA Approval. FDA approval letter, July 21, 2023. Establishes YCANTH as an approved topical treatment for molluscum contagiosum in patients 2 years of age and older.
6. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Ycanth (cantharidin) Topical Solution, 0.7%: Clinical Review. FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Details the approved topical formulation, treatment indication, and administration by healthcare professionals.
7. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Safely Treating Molluscum, a Common Skin Condition. FDA consumer safety guidance addressing unapproved products marketed for molluscum and the risks associated with inappropriate self-treatment.
8. van der Wouden JC, van der Sande R, et al. Interventions for Cutaneous Molluscum Contagiosum. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2017;5:CD004767. Systematic review evaluating available interventions for cutaneous molluscum contagiosum.
9. Dohil MA, Lin P, et al. The Epidemiology of Molluscum Contagiosum in Children. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2006;54(1):47–54. Epidemiological research describing the distribution and clinical characteristics of molluscum contagiosum.