Eczema and Molluscum Contagiosum: What to Do

If eczema is the “my skin is mad at me” condition, molluscum contagiosum is the “my skin has tiny, mysterious pearls” surprise no one asked for.
Separately, both are common. Together, they can feel like an unfair team-up: itchy, bumpy, and annoyingly persistent.
The good news? In most healthy people, molluscum is mild and goes away over timeand eczema can be managed so it doesn’t turbocharge the spread.
This guide explains why these two conditions often show up together, what the bumps and rashes typically look like, and how clinicians usually approach treatment when you’re dealing with both.

First, a quick “what are we talking about?”

Eczema (usually atopic dermatitis)

“Eczema” is a broad term people use for itchy, inflamed skin. The most common type is atopic dermatitis, which is strongly linked to dry skin, a weaker skin barrier, and a tendency to flare.
That broken-barrier piece matters here: when skin is dry, cracked, or inflamed, it’s easier for irritants, allergens, andyessome viruses to take advantage.

Molluscum contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is a viral skin infection that causes small, dome-shaped bumps that often look pearly and may have a tiny “dimple” in the center.
It spreads through skin-to-skin contact and by touching contaminated objects (like towels), and it can also spread to other parts of your own body if you scratch and then touch nearby skin.
In healthy children and adults, it usually clears on its own, but the timeline can be months… and sometimes longer.

Why eczema and molluscum so often travel as a pair

Think of eczema as a “leaky roof” problem. When the skin barrier is compromised, the skin is more vulnerable and more reactive.
Molluscum, meanwhile, is a “sticky guest”it can take hold more easily when skin is inflamed and when scratching is frequent.

Barrier weakness: Eczema-prone skin tends to be dry and micro-cracked. That makes it easier for infections to get established and harder for the skin to calm down afterward.
Scratching = self-spread (autoinoculation): Molluscum bumps can itch. Eczema itches. Your hands don’t care which itch started the scratcheither way, scratching can move the virus to nearby skin.
Molluscum can trigger “molluscum dermatitis”: Many people develop a red, itchy, eczema-like patch around molluscum bumps. It can look like the molluscum is “infected,” but it’s often an inflammatory reaction.
Location overlap: Molluscum in kids often appears in areas that also flare with eczema (like the folds of the elbows, behind knees, and trunk), which can make everything blend into one itchy conspiracy.

Important perspective: having eczema doesn’t mean molluscum is dangerous. It often just means it’s more likely to spread, be itchier, and cause more frustration unless you manage the eczema aggressively and reduce skin-to-skin/skin-to-object spread.

What it looks like when you have both

Classic molluscum bumps

Small, smooth, dome-shaped bumps
Skin-colored, pink, or pearly
Often clustered
May have a tiny central indentation (“umbilication”)

How eczema changes the picture

With eczema in the mix, molluscum bumps may be less “neat” looking because surrounding skin is red, scaly, or scratched.
Some people notice the rash (eczema flare) before they even notice the bumps causing it.
It’s also common for bumps to get surrounded by a rough, itchy halomolluscum dermatitiswhich can make the area look angrier than the virus itself deserves.

Red flags that deserve a clinician’s eyes

Most molluscum is harmless, but contact a clinician promptly if you see any of the followingespecially if eczema scratching is intense:

Rapidly increasing redness, warmth, swelling, or pain (possible bacterial infection)
Pus, honey-colored crusting, or streaking redness
Lesions on or near the eyelids/eye area
Lesions on the genitals (needs evaluation to confirm cause and rule out other conditions)
Widespread molluscum in someone who is immunocompromised
Fever or a child who seems ill (not typical for uncomplicated molluscum)

How it’s diagnosed

Molluscum is often diagnosed clinicallymeaning a trained clinician (often a dermatologist) can identify it by looking at the bumps.
If the appearance is unusual (which can happen with eczema, scratching, or secondary irritation), a clinician may do a quick scraping or sample to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment when eczema and molluscum overlap

Here’s the balancing act: molluscum often clears without treatment, but eczema can make it spread and itchand some molluscum treatments can irritate sensitive, eczema-prone skin.
The best plan is usually a two-track approach: control eczema first (or at the same time) and then decide whether active molluscum treatment is worth it.

When “do nothing” is a reasonable option

Many clinicians recommend watchful waiting if:

The person is otherwise healthy
There are only a few bumps
They aren’t on the face/eyelids or genital area
The child isn’t distressed, and eczema is under good control

“No treatment” doesn’t mean “no plan,” though. It means focusing on comfort, reducing spread, and keeping eczema calm while the immune system does its slow-but-steady work.

When active treatment makes more sense

Treatment is more commonly considered when:

Molluscum is widespread or rapidly spreading
Eczema flares keep igniting around lesions
Lesions are on the face/eyelids or in high-friction areas
Lesions are on the genitals
The person is immunocompromised
The bumps are causing significant itch, embarrassment, or disruption

In-office options (often fastest, but can be irritating)

Cantharidin (provider-applied “blistering agent”): A clinician applies it directly to each bump. It creates a controlled blistering reaction so the lesion lifts off.
A key point: this is not a DIY treatmentapplication is done by trained healthcare professionals.
One FDA-approved option is cantharidin 0.7% topical solution (often discussed under the brand name YCANTH) for ages 2+; it’s applied by a provider at intervals (commonly every few weeks) as needed.

Cryotherapy (freezing): Liquid nitrogen can destroy lesions, but it can sting and may be tough for younger kids or for people with very reactive, eczema-prone skin.

Curettage (gentle scraping/removal): A clinician physically removes lesions. It can be effective but may be uncomfortable and may not be ideal for large numbers of lesions.

With eczema present, clinicians often choose the least irritating effective option, or they’ll treat only the “worst offenders” while managing the rest conservatively.

At-home prescription option (a big deal for busy families)

If the barrier between “treating” and “tolerating treatment” is time, pain, or clinic visits, an at-home option may help.
One FDA-approved at-home prescription treatment is berdazimer topical gel 10.3% (brand name commonly referenced as ZELSUVMI), indicated for adults and children 1 year and older.
It’s designed to be applied by patients/caregivers at home, following the product instructions (including preparation steps).

For eczema-prone skin, the practical advantage is control: you can treat while also maintaining a consistent eczema routine (moisturizer, gentle cleansing, trigger reduction), and you’re not stacking multiple in-office procedures that can inflame already-sensitive skin.
A clinician can help decide whether this is appropriate based on age, location of lesions, and the child’s baseline skin sensitivity.

What about the itchy rash around molluscum bumps?

This is where people get tripped up: the eczema-like rash around molluscum can look alarming, but it’s often an inflammatory reaction (molluscum dermatitis).
Treating that rash can be part of preventing spread because less itch usually means less scratching.

Typical clinician-guided strategies may include:

Daily moisturizer (fragrance-free, thick, “boring” in the best way)
Short courses of anti-inflammatory topicals for eczema flares (chosen by a clinician based on age and body area)
Gentle bathing and cleansers (eczema-friendly routines, not “squeaky clean” routines)
Itch management so scratching doesn’t keep reseeding new lesions

A helpful mindset: molluscum is a virus; eczema is inflammation. You often need to calm inflammation so the virus doesn’t get carried around by your fingernails like it paid for a rideshare.

How to prevent spread (without turning your home into a hazmat scene)

Molluscum spreads through contact. Prevention is mostly about reducing opportunities for the virus to “catch a ride.”
You don’t need a full household lockdownjust consistent, realistic habits.

Smart daily habits

Cover bumps with clothing or bandages when practical (especially for school, sports, and playdates).
Don’t share towels, washcloths, razors, clothing, or sports gear that touches skin.
Hand hygiene after applying eczema products or touching affected areas.
Keep nails short (a simple move that reduces skin damage and spread from scratching).
Avoid picking/squeezing bumps (tempting, but it can spread the virus and irritate skin).

School, daycare, and sports

Many public-health sources note that children generally do not need to be excluded from school or daycare for molluscum.
The practical focus is covering lesions and avoiding direct skin-to-skin contact in close-contact sports unless lesions are securely covered.

Swimming

Swimming is often still allowed. The key is covering visible lesions with watertight bandages and not sharing towels or pool toys that rub against skin.
(Also: wet skin can itch more afterwardso moisturize post-swim like it’s your part-time job.)

Eczema-friendly “game plan” for molluscum weeks

When molluscum appears in someone with eczema, consistency beats intensity. Consider discussing an approach like this with a clinician:

Stabilize the skin barrier: moisturize at least daily, more often if skin is very dry.
Calm flares early: treat eczema inflammation promptly so itch doesn’t spiral into scratching.
Reduce friction triggers: breathable clothing, minimize harsh soaps, keep bath/shower water lukewarm.
Target the molluscum strategically: treat the most problematic clusters first if active treatment is chosen.
Track new lesions: not obsessivelyjust enough to notice rapid spread or signs of infection.

Common myths (because skin myths spread faster than molluscum)

“If it’s inflamed, it must be a bacterial infection.”

Not always. Molluscum often becomes red and itchy as the immune system reacts, and eczema can create a dramatic-looking rash around bumps.
Still, worsening pain, pus, fever, or expanding warmth are good reasons to get checked.

“If my child has molluscum, they can’t be around other kids.”

In many cases, kids can continue school/daycare with lesions covered and good hygiene.
The goal is reducing direct contact with uncovered lesions and not sharing items like towels.

“Treating eczema will make the virus worse.”

Uncontrolled eczema often leads to more scratching and more spread.
The usual clinical logic is the opposite: keeping eczema controlled can reduce the itch-scratch cycle that helps molluscum multiply across the skin.
Your clinician can help tailor anti-inflammatory choices for sensitive areas and age groups.

Quick FAQ

How long does molluscum last?

In healthy people, molluscum often clears without treatment, but it can take months and sometimes longer.
With eczema, it may appear more widespread because scratching spreads lesions to new areas.

Can you get molluscum more than once?

Yes, reinfection can happen if you’re exposed again.

Is molluscum dangerous?

In most healthy children and adults, it’s a mild skin infection.
It may require more careful management in people with weakened immune systems or when lesions affect sensitive areas (like eyelids or genitals).

Experiences: what living with eczema + molluscum can feel like (and what people say helps)

The most common “experience” people describe is not painit’s the slow, repetitive frustration. It starts with one or two bumps that seem harmless,
then eczema flares nearby, then suddenly there’s a small constellation of bumps and a child (or adult) who cannot stop scratching.
Many parents say the toughest part is the mismatch between how calm clinicians can be (“It’s common, it’ll pass”) and how chaotic it can feel at home
when bedtime turns into an itch marathon.

Families often notice patterns. One big one: molluscum tends to spread during “rough skin weeks”winter dryness, stress, swimming season, or allergy flare-ups
when eczema is already active. In those periods, people report that the bumps feel itchier, the skin gets more inflamed, and the urge to scratch becomes almost automatic.
A lot of caregivers describe success not with one magic product, but with stacking small, boring habits: thick moisturizer after every bath, short nails, cotton pajamas,
and a consistent “hands off the bumps” rule that’s repeated like a household mantra.

Another frequent experience is confusion about the red rash around the bumps. People describe it as “the molluscum is angry” or “it looks infected.”
Then they find out it may be molluscum dermatitisan eczema-like reaction around lesionsand they feel both relieved and slightly betrayed by their eyeballs.
Once that’s understood, many say itch control becomes the turning point. When the itch drops, scratching drops. When scratching drops, new bumps slow down.
It’s not instant, but it’s a noticeable shift.

Adults with eczema often describe a different flavor of annoyance: bumps appearing in areas that rub or get shaved (like thighs, underarms, or the bikini area),
then getting irritated by hair removal, tight workout clothing, or friction.
Some say the lesson they learned is that “skin routines matter more than usual” during molluscum: gentler cleansing, skipping shaving over lesions,
and choosing breathable fabrics can reduce irritation and limit spread.

In terms of treatment experiences, people’s preferences vary widely. Some families love the “watch and wait” approach once they know it’s safe,
because it avoids irritating procedures in kids who already have sensitive skin. Others feel better with active treatmentespecially if bumps keep multiplying
or a child is self-conscious. A common theme is that the “best” plan is the one your household can actually follow.
A perfect regimen that collapses after three days is less effective than a simple plan that survives busy mornings, sports practice, and tired parents.

Finally, many people describe a surprisingly emotional layer: guilt and worry about contagiousness.
Parents worry about sending their child to school or swim lessons. Adults worry about dating, intimacy, or being judged for “a skin thing.”
What often helps is having a clear script: “It’s a common viral skin condition. We’re covering lesions, not sharing towels, and managing eczema to prevent scratching.”
That clarity turns the problem from mysterious to manageableand sometimes that’s half the battle.

Conclusion

Eczema and molluscum contagiosum can be an irritating duo, mostly because eczema increases itch and scratching, and scratching helps molluscum spread.
The most effective strategy usually combines barrier repair (moisturizing and gentle skin care), smart prevention (cover lesions, don’t share towels, keep nails short),
and targeted treatment when neededespecially for widespread lesions, sensitive locations, or significant eczema flares around bumps.
If you’re unsure whether bumps are molluscum, or if lesions are on the face/eyelids, genitals, or show signs of bacterial infection, a clinician (often a dermatologist)
can confirm the diagnosis and tailor a plan that won’t inflame already-sensitive skin.