Molluscum Treatment for Children What Connecticut Parents Should Know

Finding a cluster of small bumps on your child’s skin can be confusing, especially when the bumps keep multiplying. Molluscum contagiosum is a common viral skin infection in children, and it often appears at the ages when close contact at daycare, school, sports, and play is part of everyday life.

Molluscum is usually mild, but it can linger for months and spread when a child scratches the bumps. Some children also develop dry, itchy skin around the lesions. Parents are often left with the same question: should we wait for it to clear, or should we treat it?

For a complete overview of diagnosis and available care, visit our molluscum treatment page for Connecticut patients.

How to recognize molluscum in a child

Molluscum usually causes small, firm bumps that are white, pink, tan, or close to the child’s skin tone. The surface is smooth, and many bumps have a tiny dip in the center. They may appear almost anywhere on the body and can occur alone, in a line, or in clusters.

The bumps may become red or swollen as the immune system reacts to the virus. That inflammation can be part of the clearing process, but increasing pain, warmth, drainage, or rapidly spreading redness may indicate a bacterial infection and should be evaluated.

Because warts, eczema, folliculitis, and other skin conditions can look similar, a dermatologist should confirm the diagnosis before treatment begins.

Will molluscum go away without treatment

In many healthy children, molluscum eventually clears without treatment. The CDC notes that the infection is usually mild, and the American Academy of Dermatology in many healthy children,  molluscum clears on its own within 6-18 months, although some cases can last longer.

Watchful waiting may be a reasonable choice when there are only a few bumps and they are not itchy, irritated, infected, or upsetting to the child. Waiting does not mean ignoring the condition. Parents should watch for new lesions, protect irritated skin, and take steps to reduce spread.

When treatment may help

• A dermatologist may be more likely to recommend treatment when:
• Bumps are spreading to multiple areas
• Scratching is causing eczema, bleeding, or infection
• Lesions are close to the eyes or in another sensitive area
• The child is uncomfortable or self-conscious
• The child participates in close-contact sports
• The child has a weakened immune system

The decision is individual. A dermatologist will consider the child’s age and comfort, the number and location of the bumps, and whether eczema or another skin condition is also present.

How dermatologists treat molluscum in children

Treatment may be performed in the dermatology office or prescribed for use at home. Even with treatment, molluscum does not always disappear after one visit. New bumps may become visible because they were already developing before the first lesions were treated.

Cantharidin

Cantharidin, sometimes called beetle juice, is applied to individual bumps in a dermatologist’s office. An FDA-approved form can be used in adults and children age 2 and older. Application is generally painless, but a blister forms later. The dermatologist will tell you exactly when to wash the medicine off to reduce the risk of excessive irritation.

Do not buy cantharidin online or apply it at home. Incorrect use can cause chemical burns and scarring.

Berdazimer gel

Berdazimer is a prescription topical gel that is FDA approved for adults and children age 1 and older. It is applied at home according to the prescribing clinician’s instructions, generally once daily for a limited course. Redness, stinging, or irritation can occur, so parents should apply it only to affected areas and follow the treatment plan carefully.

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy freezes the bumps with liquid nitrogen. It can work well for selected lesions, but it may be uncomfortable. Dermatologists may reserve it for older children or for a smaller number of bumps.

Curettage

Curettage removes each bump with a small medical instrument. It is generally better suited to older children, teenagers, or adults who can tolerate the procedure. Trying to remove the core of a molluscum bump at home can spread the virus and lead to infection or scarring.

Other topical treatments

A dermatologist may recommend another prescription or nonprescription topical treatment for a particular child. Tretinoin is one example that may be used to create a controlled reaction in the surface of the skin. Imiquimod is generally not recommended for children because studies have not shown that it works well for pediatric molluscum.

Avoid essential oils, acids, and products promoted online as instant cures. These products may not work and can irritate or injure a child’s skin.

What parents can do at home

1. Help your child avoid scratching or picking. Keep nails short and address itching or surrounding eczema with guidance from a dermatologist.
2. Cover bumps that are exposed during close contact, sports, or shared activities. Use clean clothing or a bandage that will not further irritate the skin.
3. Keep personal items personal. Do not share towels, washcloths, clothing, razors, or sports gear that touches bare skin.
4. Do not shave over the bumps. Shaving can move the virus across the skin and cause additional lesions.
5. Do not pop, squeeze, or scrape molluscum bumps at home
6. Wash hands after applying prescribed medicine or touching affected skin.

Can children with molluscum go to school or daycare

Yes. The CDC states that children do not need to stay home from school or daycare because of molluscum. Covering visible bumps when practical can help reduce direct contact and discourage picking. Your child’s school, daycare, camp, or sports program may have its own policy, particularly for activities involving close skin contact.

Can children swim with molluscum

children with molluscum can generally swim but should cover visible lesions with watertight bandages, avoid sharing towels or other equipment that touches bare skin. Children with open sores should stay out of pools until the sores have healed

When parents should make a dermatology appointment

• Contact a dermatologist when:
• You are not sure the bumps are molluscum
• The bumps are spreading or have lasted for many months
• Itching or eczema is making the child uncomfortable
• There is pain, warmth, drainage, or spreading redness
• Bumps are near the eyes, in the genital area, or in another sensitive location
• The child has a weakened immune system

A dermatology visit can confirm the diagnosis and help your family weigh the comfort of treatment against the option of allowing the infection to clear naturally.

Molluscum treatment for children in Connecticut

Dermatology Physicians of Connecticut cares for children with molluscum at offices across the state, including Branford, Fairfield, Hamden, New Haven, New London, Norwalk, Oxford, Shelton, Stamford, and Woodbridge. Our clinicians can evaluate the bumps, treat associated eczema or infection, and recommend an option that fits your child’s age and needs.

Learn more about molluscum diagnosis and treatment in Connecticut, then schedule an appointment online or call 203-538-5682.