What New Skin Bumps Could Mean

“I’ve developed round pink bumps on my neck. Should I be concerned?”

It sounds like your bumps could be molluscum contagiosum. These pink, pearly bumps are fairly common and harmless. Usually painless, they can be as small as a pinhead or as large as a pencil eraser and sometimes have a dimple in the center. They can appear anywhere on the body.

A virus that easily spreads from person to person causes molluscum. You can get the bumps from skin-to-skin contact with someone who has molluscum or by sharing infected towels, clothing and razors—and even from gym equipment. Since molluscum can be spread by sexual contact, talk to your doctor about whether you need to be screened for other sexually transmitted diseases.

Scratching and touching the bumps will spread the virus not only to other parts of your body but to other people as well if you touch them. To avoid spreading molluscum, keep the area clean with soap and water, and cover it with a bandage.

The virus lives only on the skin, so when the bumps are gone, so is the infection, and you are no longer contagious.

In most cases, the bumps go away within a year, but the condition may last up to four years in some people. Treatment is not usually necessary. However, if the infection is extensive, a dermatologist can remove molluscum with salicylic acid, freezing or laser surgery, all of which may be covered by insurance.