What is secondary infection?

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I have read your query and examined your picture (attachment removed to protect patient identity). It seems that you are having molluscum contagiosum and a few of them are secondarily infected. Molluscum contagiosum virus will cause multiple or single raised skin lesion. The papules are umbilicated and contain a caseous plug. This virus may sometimes get inoculated along the small skin injury, such as from shaving which is known as autoinoculation. This virus gets transmitted through direct skin contact, through swimming pool or it could be transmitted sexually (STD).

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Secondary infection means if you have one kind of lesion that gets traumatized by scratching. It leads to infection in our body commensalism or by certain bacteria like staphylococcus aureus or other bacteria leading to pus formation in a few traumatized lesions.

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Since it is a viral illness, there is no role of antibiotics. Antibiotics act against bacteria and not on a virus. In your case, as you have few secondary infected lesions, you will require antibiotics. Since molluscum is caused by a virus that can be passed on by skin contact or from contaminated towels, flannels and soft toys. It is not serious and usually clears within 12-18 months without any treatment. You should not touch the lesions till you get cured to prevent further transmission to other areas of the body.

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Yes, avoid sex for at least two to three months till your lesions get completely cured. Otherwise, your partner will also develop these kind of eruptions.