Skin tags or rash?

[lydia]

A few weeks ago I noticed what looks like little skin tags, or colorless raised pimples on the back, left side of my 5 year old's neck.  Since then they have spead to behind his ear and up into his scalp, but only on the left side.  I've checked him thoroughly, as has the school nurse, and he does not have lice.  Some of the bumps are bigger than others and appear to have a little hard core in them.  They don't itch or appear to bother him.  What might this be, and will they go away or will he need medical treatment?

[mama_cal]

A related discussion, Dime size red raised bumps all around private area and legs and stomach was started.

[Dalonna]

My five year old daughter has these little bumps on her legs and I notice that my four year old son is also getting them on his neck.  What are these caused by?  Should I take them to the pediatrician?

[lydia]

Thank you!!  I really appreciate your time, opinion and having a forum like this available.  I will look up molluscum in my Stedman's when I get to work tomorrow (I'm a disability examiner) and see if there's a picture or if what my son has fits that description as well.  Thank you, again.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

"Seed warts" are just small, regular warts, not molluscum, which are caused by a different virus.

ASR

[Jessica]

My son had the same thing a  couple of years ago.  We found out that they were called seed warts.  I can't recall what we did about them, but it might be something you can look up.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Lydia:

It sounds to me as though you are describing the viral condition called molluscum contagiosum.  This is an unfortunate name, because these harmless viral bumps are really not contagious from one person to another.  Kids often get them in various places such as the chest or neck.  They sometimes get a little bit red, but they always go way even if left untreated.  The average duration is a little on the long side, though, about nine months.

Because most treatments involve pain and multiple sessions, I usually advise parents of young children will have them to just let them be until they disappear on their own.

Good luck.

Dr. R