When you see small, round, flesh-colored bumps on your child’s skin—or even your own—it’s likely molluscum contagiosum, a common viral skin infection caused by the poxvirus that spreads through direct contact or shared items like towels. Also known as water warts, it’s not dangerous but can be annoying, lasting months or even years if left alone. This isn’t acne, it’s not an allergy, and it’s not contagious in the way colds are—it spreads slowly, mostly among kids, athletes, or people with weakened immune systems.
Most cases clear up on their own, but waiting isn’t always practical. Parents want it gone fast. Athletes don’t want to skip the pool. Adults with visible bumps feel self-conscious. That’s where topical treatments, medicated creams and solutions applied directly to the bumps come in. Options like cantharidin, imiquimod, and tretinoin are used by doctors, while some try tea tree oil or iodine at home. But not all work the same. Some irritate skin, others take weeks, and a few can leave marks if misused. The key is matching the treatment to the person—age, skin sensitivity, number of bumps, and location matter a lot.
What you won’t find in most guides is how viral skin lesions, the medical term for molluscum bumps behave differently in kids versus adults. Kids often get them on the face, arms, or legs. Adults usually see them in the groin or thighs—often from sexual contact. That changes how you treat them. You wouldn’t use the same approach for a toddler’s arm bump as you would for a grown-up’s inner thigh. And while some online sources push ‘miracle cures,’ real solutions are grounded in what’s been tested in clinics—not TikTok trends.
There’s also the risk of spreading it. Scratching, sharing towels, or swimming together can pass the virus. That’s why hygiene and avoiding skin-to-skin contact during outbreaks matter as much as any cream. You can’t just treat the bumps—you need to treat the environment too.
Below, you’ll find real, evidence-backed posts that break down exactly what treatments work, which ones to avoid, how to use them safely on kids, and what to do if nothing seems to help. No fluff. No hype. Just clear info on what’s been proven—and what’s just noise.
Molluscum contagiosum causes harmless but contagious skin bumps, especially in children. Learn how it spreads, why most cases clear on their own, and which treatments actually work - without scarring or unnecessary procedures.