Molluscum contagiosum (MC), sometimes called water warts, is a viral infection of the skin that results in small raised pink lesions with a dimple in the center.

[1] The virus is spread either by direct contact, including sexual activity, or via contaminated objects such as towels.

[4] Risk factors include a weak immune system, atopic dermatitis, and crowded living conditions.

[11] Molluscum lesions are most commonly found on the face, arms, legs, torso, and armpits in children.

[16] When treatment has resulted in the elimination of all bumps, the infection has been effectively cured and will not reappear unless the person is reinfected.

[23] For mild cases, over-the-counter topical medication, such as potassium hydroxide may provide a modest benefit.

[29] The most common side effects occurred at the drug application site including pain, rash, itch, eczema, swelling, erosion, discoloration, blister, irritation, and infection.

[30] Imiquimod is a form of immunotherapy initially proposed as a treatment for molluscum based on promising results in small case series and clinical trials.

[35] However, two large randomized controlled trials, specifically requested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act both demonstrated that imiquimod cream applied three times per week was no more effective than placebo cream for treating molluscum after 18 weeks of treatment in a total of 702 children aged 2–12 years.

[36] In 2007, results from those trials—which remain unpublished—were incorporated into FDA-approved prescribing information for imiquimod, which states: "Limitations of Use: Efficacy was not demonstrated for molluscum contagiosum in children aged 2–12.

"[36][37] In 2007, the FDA also updated imiquimod's label concerning safety issues raised in the two large trials and an FDA-requested pharmacokinetic study (the latter of which was published).

[36] The updated safety label reads as follows: Surgical treatments include cryosurgery, in which liquid nitrogen is used to freeze and destroy lesions, as well as scraping them off with a curette.

Application of liquid nitrogen may cause burning or stinging at the treated site, which may persist for a few minutes after the treatment.