Verruga Filiforme

A single, thin, digitate papule projecting above the skin surface, often described as “a tiny tree trunk or miniature stalagmite.”

Filiform warts are compared to common plantar or flat warts, due to their deep HPV reservoirs and facial location (limiting aggressive therapies). Treatment goals: eradicate visible wart, avoid scarring, prevent recurrence. verruga filiforme

Filiform wart (verruca filiformis) Rather than being hard and round, these warts look like they have tentacles or threads sticking... American Academy of Dermatology Show all The End of the Story While these "skin threads" are benign (non-cancerous), they are often unwelcome guests. The story usually ends when the person visits a dermatologist . Instead of trying to "cut" or "pull" the wart at home—which can cause bleeding and spreading—professionals use a few "magic" tricks: Cryotherapy A single, thin, digitate papule projecting above the

| Condition | Distinguishing features | |-----------|--------------------------| | | Waxy, stuck-on appearance; no filiform projections on face in young patients. | | Skin tag (acrochordon) | Soft, pedunculated, smooth surface, no keratotic cap. | | Molluscum contagiosum | Dome-shaped, umbilicated, waxy papules; no thread-like projections. | | Verruca plana | Flat-topped, skin-colored, smooth surface; grouped, not filiform. | | Fibroepithelial polyp | Softer, non-keratotic, typical in intertriginous areas. | | Squamous papilloma | May appear similar but is solitary, non-HPV-related, and histologically distinct. | | Actinic keratosis | Erythematous, scaly plaque; sun-damaged skin; no digitate projections. | | Eyelid basal cell carcinoma | Pearly border, telangiectasias, slow growth; biopsy required if suspicious. | American Academy of Dermatology Show all The End

is a distinct clinical variant of the common wart (verruca vulgaris), caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Its name derives from the Latin filum (thread) and forma (shape), describing its characteristic finger-like or thread-like projections. These warts are benign epithelial proliferations but are notable for their rapid growth, unusual morphology, and predilection for specific facial sites (lips, eyelids, nose, and perioral region).