Dr. Alai is an actively practicing medical and surgical dermatologist in south Orange County, California. She has been a professor of dermatology and family medicine at the University of California, Irvine since 2000. She is U.S. board-certified in dermatology, a 10-year-certified fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, and Fellow of the American Society of Mohs Surgery.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
Can my child go to day care or school if he or she has molluscum?
There should be no reason to keep a child with molluscum infection home from day care or school.
Growths not covered by clothing should be covered with a watertight bandage. Change the bandage daily or when obviously soiled.
If a child with bumps in the underwear/diaper area needs assistance going to the bathroom or needs diaper changes, then growths in this area should be bandaged too if possible.
Covering the bumps will protect other children and adults from getting molluscum and will also keep the child from touching and scratching the bumps, which could spread the bumps to other parts of his/her body or cause secondary (bacterial) infections.
Remind children to wash their hands frequently.
SOURCE: CDC
What is molluscum contagiosum? What causes molluscum contagiosum?
Molluscum contagiosum is a common skin disorder caused by a superficial skin
infection with the poxvirus. It is not caused by bacteria, yeasts, or
fungi. Diet does not seem
to affect molluscum contagiosum. Molluscum contagiosum appears as multiple,
scattered, small tan or pink little bumps on any part of the skin, including the
neck, trunk, arms, legs, buttocks, and face. Although possible, it is
extremely rare to have it all over the body in a healthy individual with a
normal immune system. Molluscum contagiosum most characteristically involves
just one or two body areas at a time, like the chest, back, or legs. Other common
locations include the face, neck, eyelids, thighs, genitals, and buttocks. It
generally spares the palms and soles.
Skin infected with molluscum contagiosum may have some
dilation of the small superficial blood vessels and inflammation, thereby giving
the bumps a red or flushed appearance. More males are affected than
females. Most people have no other symptoms, but itching can occur. The molluscum virus does not affect internal organs or enter the bloodstream.
Molluscum contagiosum can spread from one body part to another. As the name
implies, molluscum contagiosum is very contagious and easily transmitted from
person to person via skin contact or sharing razors or towels, public swimming
pools, shared bathtubs, or hot tubs. Molluscum contagiosum can be cosmetically
displeasing, but it is otherwise medically harmless. Molluscum contagiosum may
resolve over months to years spontaneously without any treatment. Molluscum
contagiosum is typically treated with common wart remedies like liquid nitrogen
(freezing) or burning (cautery).
The word "rash" means an outbreak of red bumps on the body. The way people use this term, "a rash" can refer to many different skin conditions. The most common of these are scaly patches of skin and red, itchy bumps or patches all over the place.
Cysts are saclike structures that can occur throughout the body and usually contain a semisolid, liquid, or gaseous substance. Infections, tumors, genetic conditions, chronic inflammatory conditions, and wear and tear can cause cysts. Though some cysts may be palpable, others may not produce any symptoms. Treatment depends upon the location and cause of the cyst.
Itching can be a common problem. Itches can be localized or generalized. There are many causes of itching to include: infection (jock itch, vaginal itch), disease (hyperthyroidism, liver or kidney), reactions to drugs, and skin infestations (pubic or body lice). Treatment for itching varies depending on the cause of the itch.
Folliculitis is a skin condition that causes small red bumps to form around the hair follicles. Skin bacteria such as Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas my infect the follicles. Treatment involves over-the-counter bacterial washes, topical antibiotics, and/or topical steroids.
Acne is a localized skin inflammation as a result of overactivity of oil glands at the
base of hair follicles. This inflammation, depending on its location, can take the form
of a superficial pustule (contains pus), a pimple, a deeper cyst, congested pores, whiteheads, or blackheads. Treatments vary depending on the severity of the acne.
Eczema is a general term for many types dermatitis (skin inflammation). Atopic dermatitis is the most common of the many types of eczema. Other types of eczema include: contact eczema, allergic contact eczema, seborrheic eczema, nummular eczema, stasis dermatitis, and. dyshidrotic eczema.
Scar formation is a natural part of the healing process after injury. The depth and size of the wound incision and the location of the injury impact the scar's characteristics, but your age, heredity and even sex or ethnicity will affect how your skin reacts.
A cyst is a closed, saclike structure that contains fluid, gas, or semisolid material and is not a normal part of the tissue where it is located. Cysts are common and can occur anywhere in the body in people of any age. Cysts vary in size; they may be detectable only under a microscope or they can grow so large that they displace normal organs and tissues. The outer wall of a cyst is called the
capsule.
What are the causes of a cyst?
Cysts can arise through a variety of processes in the body, including
"wear and tear" or simple obstructions to the flow of
fluid,
infections,
tumors,
chronic inflammatory
conditions,
genetic (inherited) conditions,
defects in developing organs in the embryo.
Most cysts arise due to the types of conditions listed above and are only preventable to the extent that the underlying ...
