A waxy substance may come out of the bumps when they are squeezed. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. This is a common infection in children and occurs when a child comes into direct contact with a skin lesion or an object that has the virus on it. Typically, this happens gradually within 6 to 12 months and without scarring. If the bumps are scratched or injured, the infection can spread to surrounding skin. Similar to the smallpox (variola) virus, molluscum contagiosum is a skin disease that is exclusive to humans. You may be a candidate for treatment if: The most effective treatments for molluscum contagiosum are performed by a doctor. Molluscum contagiosum is a skin infection caused by the virus Molluscum contagiosum. Molluscum contagiosum is a skin infection. However, smallpox was declared to be eradicated in 1980 whereas molluscum contagiosum persists. Laser light is tuned to very specific wavelengths, allowing it to be focused into powerful beams. ROSEMONT, Ill., Dec. 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Molluscum contagiosum is a common and highly contagious skin condition caused by a virus. They often have a pearly appearance. Infection with the molluscum contagiosum virus causes raised fluid-filled bumps on the skin. Physicians should familiarize themselves with this common condition. When this happens, you can’t spread the virus to others or to other parts of your body. The lesions, known as Mollusca, are small, raised, and usually white, pink, or flesh-colored with a dimple or pit in the center. Poxviruses are notorious for their ability to evade the host’s immune system by both acitve and passive mechanisms. that have been contaminated with the virus. Anyone can get molluscum contagiosum, but certain groups of people are more likely to become infected than others. Avoid picking at or touching areas of your skin where the bumps exist. How is molluscum contagiosum spread? 386,387 Cases involving vertical transmission have been also described. Molluscum contagiosum occurs worldwide, but is much more frequent in certain areas like Zaire and Papua New Guinea. You can transfer the virus from one part of your body to another by touching, scratching, or shaving a bump and then touching another part of your body. The average incubation period is between two and seven weeks. Around 9 out of 10 cases happen in children although it can occur at any age. The bumps are pink and dome shaped with a central crater sort of like a volcano crater or a belly button. However, it's possible to continue developing bumps for up to five years. Lesions may be as large as 15 millimeters in diameter, which is about the size of a dime. Molluscum contagiosum (mo-LUS-kum kun-tay-jee-OH-sum) is a relatively common viral infection of the skin that results in round, firm, painless bumps ranging in size from a pinhead to a pencil eraser. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Some conditions that cause skin rashes are very contagious. The virus can survive on surfaces that have been touched by the skin of a person with molluscum contagiosum. It is caused by a pox virus. Avoid using shared sports gear that may have come in direct contact with someone else’s bare skin. When do dermatologists recommend treating molluscum contagiosum? The result of the infection is usually a benign, mild skin disease characterized by lesions (growths) that may appear anywhere on the body. A confirmed diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum will rule out other causes for the lesions, such as skin cancer, chickenpox, or warts. MC is generally a harmless condition that normally gets better in a few months without any specific treatment. The virus that causes molluscum spreads from direct person-to-person physical contact and through contaminated fomites. Usually, the only symptom of molluscum contagiosum is the tiny bumps on the skin. Molluscum contagiosum is a common viral skin infection of childhood that causes localised clusters of epidermal papules called mollusca. Molluscum contagiosum is caused by a virus that is a member of the poxvirus family. Many people have experienced an occasional skin rash or unexplained mark. What is molluscum contagiosum? Molluscum contagiosum and warts are benign epidermal eruptions resulting from viral infections of the skin. Background: Molluscum contagiosum is a viral cutaneous infection in childhood that occurs worldwide. Molluscum contagiosum affects about 200,000 people a year, about 1% of … Molluscum contagiosum is a skin infection. However, some circumstances may justify treatment. However, for some, it may take from a few months up to a few years for the bumps to disappear. Laser therapies are medical treatments. 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