Is Molluscum Contagiosum an STI and How Do You Avoid It

The molluscum contagiosum virus is a contagious virus that causes a bumpy rash. It's common in children, who get it through everyday contact with other children.

But it can spread through skin-to-skin contact during sex. In people who are sexually active, it can be considered a sexually transmitted infection (STI) when bumps develop in the genital area.

But since people of any age can pick up molluscum contagiosum without having sex, it's not considered an STI in the same way as other STIs, like chlamydia or gonorrhea.

Molluscum contagiosum bumps eventually go away on their own. But there are treatments to help you get rid of them faster.

Learn what molluscum contagiosum looks like, how to lower your chance of getting it, and how to treat it.

What are the symptoms of molluscum contagiosum?

Molluscum contagiosum causes small bumps on the skin. They tend to show up in the groin, thighs, buttocks, and lower abdomen if transmitted during sex.

The bumps tend to go through different stages, and may look slightly different as they progress. Here's what they may look and feel like:

• At first, they are small and firm; they can be pink, flesh-colored, or white.

• As they develop, they can become dome-shaped and have a dimple or indent in the center.

People with a weakened immune system can develop larger bumps and many bumps.

Molluscum normally gets better on its own, but it can take up to a year for the bumps to go away if they're not treated.

How does molluscum contagiosum spread?

The molluscum contagiosum virus is very contagious. It spreads from person to person through physical contact. If your sexual partner has a molluscum rash, having skin-to-skin contact can pass the virus to you. You can also get it from touching things that the virus has come in contact with, like clothing or sheets.

The bumps may not show up for 2 to 8 weeks after you were exposed to the virus, so it may be hard to know where you got it from.

Other groups at risk for getting molluscum include:

• Adults, teens, and children who play contact sports

• People who tend to share towels and equipment

• Children, who tend to have a lot of physical contact with other children during normal play. They also share a lot of toys and objects.

• People with weakened immune systems, like people with HIV, or people being treated for cancer

How is molluscum contagiosum treated ?

The molluscum rash will eventually go away as the immune system fights off the virus. But you may choose to get the bumps treated because they can take up to a year on their own.

A dermatologist can remove them using medications, scraping, or cold therapy. Which treatment they recommend is based on factors like:

• The number of bumps you have

• Where they're located

• How fast you want to get rid of them

• Your overall health

• Cost (some are more expensive than others
  

In people who have weakened immune systems, other treatments that target the immune system may be needed.

It's important not to try to treat them yourself. This may cause a skin infection or for the virus to spread.

Treatments include:

• Cantharidin (Ycanth):Cantharidin is the only FDA-approved treatment for molluscum. Your dermatologist applies a liquid to the bumps, and you wash it off 2 to 4 hours later. It causes a blister, and when the blister heals, the bump goes away. You may need several in-office treatments.

• Cryosurgery: Your dermatologist will numb your skin with a numbing solution. Then they'll spray liquid nitrogen on the bump to freeze it, causing it to fall off.

• Curettage: After numbing your skin, your dermatologist uses a device to scrape away the bump. It may cause a little bleeding.

There are other medications and treatments that your dermatologist might recommend.

Does molluscum contagiosum come back?

New bumps may appear for several months after others have faded away. This cycle can last from 6 to 18 months before the immune system completely fights off the virus. In some people, it can last longer.

How can you prevent the spread of molluscum contagiosum?

You can reduce your risk of getting molluscum contagiosum by following these guidelines:

• Avoid sexual activity and skin-to-skin contact with someone you know has a molluscum rash. Wait until the bumps are removed or go away on their own.

• Avoid touching the clothes, sheets, or other shared objects of someone who has molluscum.

• Don't scratch or touch lesions. Picking and scratching can spread the virus to other parts of your body.

• Avoid shaving areas with lesions as this can spread the bumps.

• Keep bumps covered. Protecting the bumps with clothing reduces the risk of exposing others.

• Don't share at the gym. Don't share towels, gear, clothing, or other personal items with anyone else.

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