What molluscum contagiosum is
Molluscum contagiosum is a viral skin infection that causes spots on the skin (NHS). The infection is caused by a poxvirus called the molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) (Wikipedia). It is more common in children, but anyone can get it (NHS).
Because it is a poxvirus rather than a herpesvirus or a wart-causing HPV type, it is a separate condition from the genital bumps covered elsewhere on this site. That distinction matters for how you read your own skin: the same word “bumps” can describe several different infections, and the cause determines the expected course and whether treatment is needed at all.
How it spreads
The virus is spread either by direct contact, including sexual activity, or via contaminated objects such as towels (Wikipedia). In everyday terms, that means skin-to-skin contact with an affected area and sharing items that touch skin can both carry the virus.
This is why the practical advice centers on not sharing towels and avoiding direct contact with the bumps. It also explains why the spots can appear in clusters or spread locally over time rather than staying in one fixed spot.
What it looks like
Molluscum contagiosum results in small raised pink lesions with a dimple in the center (Wikipedia). They may become itchy or sore, and occur singularly or in groups (Wikipedia).
The dimple in the center is the feature that most distinguishes these bumps from other raised skin lesions. Onset of the lesions is around seven weeks after infection (Wikipedia). A new bump does not necessarily mean a new exposure in the past few days.
The natural course: it clears without treatment
The key fact for most people is that molluscum contagiosum clears on its own. The spots are a self-limited viral infection, and the body clears them over time without any treatment directed at the virus.
That means waiting is a legitimate plan, not a failure to act. The main reason to seek care is not to “cure” the infection but to confirm the diagnosis if you are unsure, or to address symptoms such as itching or soreness.
Treatment options and when removal is chosen
Treatment is optional. When removal is chosen, it is usually for practical reasons. The bumps are itchy or sore, they are spreading, or they are in a location where they are being irritated. Rather than because the virus requires treatment to clear.
The table below lays out the decision framework for choosing between waiting and having lesions removed.
| Option | What it involves | When it makes sense |
|---|---|---|
| Wait and observe | No active treatment; let the infection run its natural course | Bumps are not bothering you and are not spreading rapidly |
| Symptom relief | Address itching or soreness while the infection clears | Bumps are itchy or sore but not otherwise problematic |
| Removal of lesions | A clinician removes individual bumps | Bumps are spreading, irritated, or in a location where they cause problems |
After choosing an option, the next step is to keep the area clean and avoid irritating it while it heals.
The exclusion rule: avoid shaving the area
Do not shave over the affected area. Shaving can irritate the bumps and can spread the virus to nearby skin through small breaks in the skin.
If you need to remove hair near the bumps, use a method that does not drag a blade across the lesions, and keep the area covered if it is being rubbed by clothing. This is a practical boundary rather than a treatment: it reduces the chance of local spread while the infection clears on its own.
When to stop and check
If you are unsure whether the bumps are molluscum or something else, or if they are spreading quickly, becoming very sore, or appearing in a new area, have a clinician look at them. Otherwise, the reasonable plan is to leave them alone, avoid shaving the area, and let the infection clear on its own.