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Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Yes, usually. The spots are easy to recognise on camera, most clear without treatment, and a doctor can treat itch or infection around them.
- What it is: a common viral skin infection that causes small, raised, pearly spots, often with a dimple in the middle.
- How it spreads: by direct skin-to-skin contact, shared towels and baths, and in adults often through sexual contact.
- Usual course: the spots usually clear by themselves within 18 months, though some last 2 years or longer.
- Emergency: molluscum is not an emergency, but call 112 for swelling of the face, lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing.
Molluscum contagiosum is not urgent. A red, painful or swollen eye, or blurred vision, needs prompt in-person care. Spots that become hot, swollen and very painful with spreading redness or a high temperature need medical advice soon. Swelling of the face, lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing, needs 112.
Can an online doctor treat molluscum contagiosum?
Yes. Molluscum contagiosum is recognised by how the spots look, which works well on camera. Most spots clear by themselves, so care is often about confirming the diagnosis, stopping the spread, and treating itching, eczema or infection around the spots. When spots are near the eyes, very many, or need removing, the doctor arranges the right in-person care.
How an online consultation helps with molluscum contagiosum
- A clear diagnosis: Molluscum, warts, folliculitis or herpes: the doctor tells them apart on camera.
- Less spread: Practical steps to stop the spots spreading on your own skin and to other people.
- Comfort while it clears: Treatment for the itchy eczema or infection that can develop around the spots.
- The right next step: When removal, a sexual health check or a test of your immune system makes sense.
What the doctor checks in an online consultation
The doctor asks about:
- The spots: how many, where, how long they have been there, and whether new ones keep appearing.
- Symptoms: itching, soreness, redness, crusting or pus around the spots.
- How you may have caught it: close contact, shared towels or baths, swimming, or sexual contact.
- The genital area: spots on the lower tummy, thighs or genitals, and any other symptoms there.
- Your eyes: spots on or near the eyelids, a red or sore eye.
- Your health: eczema, a weakened immune system, pregnancy, and the medicines you take.
Before the call, find good light. You choose which areas you show on camera, and photos can help for spots in intimate areas.
Molluscum contagiosum symptoms
Molluscum contagiosum causes small, firm, raised spots:
- about 2 to 5 mm across, dome-shaped, often with a waxy, shiny look
- a small dimple or pit in the middle of many of the spots
- usually in groups, and sometimes in a line where scratching has spread them
- skin around the spots that may turn pink, dry and itchy
- skin-coloured spots that can look red, pink or darker brown on darker skin
In adults infected through sexual contact, the spots appear on the lower tummy, the genital area and the inner thighs. As each spot starts to clear, it can become red, inflamed or crusted for a week or two, which is often a sign it is on its way out.
How to tell a spot is healing
A healing spot often turns red and swollen, and can look like a small boil, before it flattens and crusts. Afterwards, the skin may look white, pink, purplish or darker for a while before it returns to its usual colour, and occasionally a small pitted scar or paler patch is left. A spot that is hot and very painful, with spreading redness, is different: that suggests infection.
Molluscum or something else?
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Condition | What points to it |
|---|---|
| Molluscum contagiosum | Smooth, pearly, dome-shaped spots with a central dimple, in groups |
| Warts and genital warts | Rough, cauliflower-like surface, no central dimple |
| Folliculitis | Red or pus-filled spots around hairs, often after shaving |
| Genital herpes | Painful blisters that break into sores |
How molluscum contagiosum spreads, and how long it lasts
Molluscum contagiosum is caused by a virus from the pox family. It is passed on by direct skin-to-skin contact, by sharing towels, bedding, clothes and baths, and in adults through sexual contact. Warm, wet conditions, such as shared baths and swimming, may help it spread. Scratching and shaving spread it to new areas of your own skin. The chance of spreading it during normal activities is small.
It is most common in children under 10, and parents can catch it from them; in adults it is mostly spread by sexual contact. It is more likely, and can be more widespread, with eczema, because dry, cracked skin lets the virus in more easily, and with a weakened immune system. Warm, humid climates and crowded living conditions also make it more common.
New spots usually appear about 2 weeks after contact, but it can take up to 6 months. Each spot clears by itself, and spots usually clear within 6 to 18 months, though they can last 2 years or longer. In studies of children, about half had cleared by 12 months and two thirds by 18 months, with or without treatment. New spots can appear while old ones clear, and once they have gone, a new contact can cause a new crop: having had it does not stop you catching it again.
You can carry on with normal activities, including work, while you have it.
How to treat molluscum contagiosum at home
Treatment is rarely needed. While the spots clear:
- Do not squeeze or scratch the spots, as this can cause infection, scarring and more spots.
- Ease dryness and itching with a damp towel, cool baths or an unperfumed moisturiser.
- Cover the spots with clothing, and use waterproof plasters for swimming.
- Do not share baths, towels, bedding or clothes, and wash your hands often, especially after touching the spots.
- Avoid shaving, waxing or other hair removal over the spots, and throw used plasters away.
- Use a condom during sex.
Which molluscum contagiosum treatment might the doctor recommend?
There is no single perfect treatment, and the spots often clear on their own. This is the framework the doctors use, in line with NHS and dermatology guidance.
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you have | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| A few spots, no symptoms | No treatment, steps to stop the spread | Yes | Not usually needed |
| Itchy, dry, red skin around the spots | Moisturiser and a mild steroid cream | Yes | Not usually needed |
| Infected spots: crusted, painful, pus | Antibiotics | Yes | If it spreads or you feel unwell |
| Genital spots after sexual contact | Advice, and a sexual health check if suitable | Yes | For removal or tests |
| Many spots, or spots that bother you a lot | Removal by freezing or scraping | Yes, to assess | For the procedure |
| Spots on or near the eyelids | Assessment of the eye | Yes, to assess | Often, to examine the eye |
Not sure what the spots are? A doctor can look at them on camera and tell you what helps in one consultation.
See available times →Treatment options for molluscum contagiosum
What you can do yourself
- Leave the spots alone, and keep them covered.
- Keep the skin around them moisturised to ease itching.
- Keep your own towel, and avoid shaving the area until they clear.
Prescription treatment
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. When the skin around the spots becomes itchy and inflamed, a mild steroid cream such as hydrocortisone helps. If spots become infected, the doctor can prescribe antibiotics. Some creams and solutions, such as podophyllotoxin or potassium hydroxide, can make spots go faster by irritating them, but they often irritate the surrounding skin and not all are suitable in pregnancy, so the doctor tells you whether one is worth trying. No treatment kills the virus itself. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
Removal in person
Spots can be frozen with liquid nitrogen, usually over several sessions, scraped off after a local anaesthetic injection, or treated with a laser by a doctor in person. Freezing can leave white marks, and scraping and laser can leave small scars, so they are used when spots are many or bothersome, or are on the genitals.
What does not help
Squeezing, picking or scratching the spots spreads them and can cause infection and scarring.
Special situations
Spots in the genital area
In adults, molluscum on the genitals, lower tummy or inner thighs is usually passed on through sexual contact. Use a condom until the spots have cleared, and the doctor may suggest a check for other sexually transmitted infections. Treatment is more often recommended for spots in the genital area than elsewhere.
When your child has molluscum
Parents can catch molluscum from their children, through close contact, shared baths and towels. Do not share bath water, keep separate towels, flannels and bedding, wash your hands after touching the spots, and cover your own spots if you develop them. Several family members can have it at once.
Spots near the eyes
Spots on the eyelids can cause conjunctivitis, a red, sticky eye. Spots near the eyes are best checked by a doctor, and a painful red eye needs prompt in-person care.
A weakened immune system
In people with HIV or another cause of a weakened immune system, spots can be larger, more numerous and last longer. Many or large spots in an adult, especially on the face, are a reason for the doctor to check your general health.
Eczema
Molluscum spots can be more numerous and last longer in people with eczema, and an itchy eczema-like rash can develop around them.
Children
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
When molluscum contagiosum is treated online, and when you need in-person care
Treated online: diagnosis of typical molluscum spots, advice on stopping the spread, itchy or inflamed skin around the spots, infected spots, and genital spots in adults with advice on sexual health checks.
In-person care: removal of spots by freezing, scraping or laser, spots on or near the eyelids that need an eye examination, and many or large spots with a weakened immune system that need specialist care.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- swelling of the face, lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing after a new treatment
- spreading redness with a high temperature and feeling very unwell
Get medical advice the same day for:
- a red, painful or swollen eye or eyelid, or blurred vision
- spots that are hot, swollen and very painful, with redness spreading around them
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CET. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about the spots: show them on camera in good light, or share photos, and say where they are and how long they have been there.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to take and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Not sure it’s molluscum contagiosum? Tick every symptom you have to see each condition page that mentions it. It finds the right page, not a diagnosis: a doctor gives you that on a video call.
Tap the body — an area or a point — to browse symptoms anywhere
Similar symptoms, different condition? Warts can start the same way. Compare them, or look up any other symptom in the full symptom checker.
Frequently asked questions about molluscum contagiosum
What does molluscum contagiosum look like?
Molluscum contagiosum causes small, firm, raised spots about 2 to 5 mm across, with a waxy, pearly look and often a small dimple in the middle. They usually appear in groups.
Is it molluscum contagiosum or something else?
Molluscum contagiosum spots are smooth, dome-shaped, pearly and dimpled in the centre, 2 to 5 mm across, in clusters. Genital warts are rougher, cauliflower-like and not dimpled; genital herpes causes painful blisters that break into sores within days; a skin tag is soft and hangs on a stalk; milia are tiny, hard white dots on the face; and a single larger pearly lump on sun-exposed skin that bleeds needs checking for basal cell carcinoma. The doctor can usually tell on camera.
How do adults get molluscum contagiosum?
Adults catch molluscum contagiosum by direct skin-to-skin contact, sharing towels, baths or clothes, and often through sexual contact, when the spots appear on the genitals, lower tummy and inner thighs.
How long does molluscum contagiosum last?
Molluscum contagiosum usually clears by itself within 6 to 18 months, though some crops last 2 years or longer, especially with eczema or a weakened immune system; each spot lasts about 2 months, but new ones appear while the virus is still active, and new contact can start a new crop. Treatment to remove spots shortens it when the spots are many or in awkward places.
Can I get molluscum from my child?
Yes. Molluscum spreads through close skin contact and shared baths, towels and bedding, so parents can catch it from children. Use separate towels and bath water, wash your hands after touching the spots, and keep any spots of your own covered.
How can I avoid catching or spreading molluscum contagiosum?
Do not share towels, flannels, razors or clothing, avoid skin contact with someone’s spots, use a condom and cover genital spots during sex, although condoms do not cover every area, keep your own spots covered, wash hands after touching them, do not shave through them, and treat dry skin and eczema, which make the skin easier to infect. There is no vaccine; molluscum contagiosum spreads only by contact, so these steps prevent most cases.
Is molluscum a form of HPV?
No. Molluscum contagiosum is caused by a poxvirus, the molluscum contagiosum virus. It is not a type of HPV, the virus that causes genital warts, and the spots look different: smooth, shiny and dimpled rather than rough.
What triggers molluscum?
Contact with the molluscum virus, from another person, shared towels or sex. It takes hold more easily in dry, cracked skin with eczema, and spreads further with scratching, shaving or a weakened immune system.
Is molluscum contagiosum an STI?
Molluscum is not only spread by sex, but in adults it is often passed on through sexual contact. Use a condom until the spots clear, and ask about a check for other sexually transmitted infections.
Should I squeeze molluscum spots?
No. Squeezing or scratching molluscum spots releases the white core that carries the virus, which spreads it to new areas of skin and to other people, and it can cause bacterial infection and scarring, which the untreated spots do not. Leave them alone, cover them if they are in an area that rubs, and treat any itch or eczema around them so you are not tempted to scratch.
Do I need treatment for molluscum contagiosum?
Usually not, as molluscum spots clear on their own. Treatment can help itching, eczema or infection around them, and removal is an option when spots are many or bothersome.
Can I go to work with molluscum contagiosum?
Yes. Molluscum contagiosum is not a reason to stay off work, the gym or school; carry on with normal activities, keep the spots covered with clothing or a waterproof plaster for swimming and contact sports, do not share towels, razors or clothing, and avoid sexual contact that touches the spots until they have cleared. The virus does not spread through the air.
How do I know molluscum is healing?
A molluscum spot often turns red, swollen and crusted for a week or two before it flattens and goes, which is usually a sign it is clearing. Spots that are hot, swollen and very painful, with spreading redness, may be infected and need a doctor.
Can an online doctor treat molluscum contagiosum?
Yes, usually. A doctor can confirm molluscum contagiosum on camera, advise on stopping the spread, and treat itching or infection. Removal of spots is done in person.
- Molluscum contagiosum, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 14 May 2026.
- Molluscum contagiosum, DermNet, New Zealand, updated August 2021.
- About molluscum contagiosum, CDC, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, updated 20 November 2025.
- Molluscum contagiosum: patient information leaflet, British Association of Dermatologists, updated January 2025.
- Genital warts, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 10 July 2023.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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