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Filiform Warts

Filiform warts are benign fleshy growths on the skin, which appear in persons who have been infected with the human papilloma virus. In general, warts are named according to the way they look or according to the place where they appear on the body. When it comes to filiform warts, these are named like that because they are projections of filiform shape. They often appear on the face and especially on the eyelids and lips but they can also appear on the neck. However, it is important to remember that filiform warts are not strictly limited to the face. They can also be identified in the axillary region or on the legs.

The infection with the human papilloma virus stimulates the top layers of the skin to grow excessively and lead to the appearance of filiform warts. The need for treatment because obvious, as these warts are highly contagious and also because of the aesthetic concern. Other from that, they usually do not cause any discomfort or pain to the pain and they do respond well to the treatment. The important thing is not delay getting the treatment, especially if they cause a lot of embarrassment.

Symptoms of Filiform Warts

These are the most common symptoms of filiform warts:

Fleshy growths appear on the face, neck and other mentioned areas
These growth are benign
In some cases, they grow to be quite long
Usually asymptomatic
In some patients, the following symptoms may be however encountered:
- Itchiness
- Bleeding
Tendency to spread to other parts of the body
Painless
If they appear near the skin folds or in areas where the skin rubs, the filiform warts might become sore and irritated.

What are the Causes of Filiform warts?

Filiform warts are caused, as it was already mentioned, by the infection with the human papilloma virus. However, not all types of HPV can cause filiform warts. These are actually caused by the following strains: 1, 2, 4, 27 and 29. Below, you will find the most common ways through which this virus is actually transmitted:

Human contact

Touching the filiform warts is enough to become infected
The person can contribute to the spread of the filiform warts from the original area to another area (otherwise lesion free) by touch
If there is a breakdown in the skin, then the risk of becoming infected with the HPV is even higher.

Clothing

Sharing your clothing with a person who has filiform warts increases the risk of yourself becoming infected, especially if those clothes have touched the infected area

Objects of personal hygiene

Sharing your towels with a person who has filiform warts poses an increased risk for infection
Sharing skin care products also poses a risk for infection

Contact with potentially-infected surfaces

The HPV can be found on different surfaces, including shower floors or the surrounding surface of a pool

Shoes

It is recommended to avoid sharing shoes with a person who has been infected with HPV

Risk factors that can favor the infection with HPV

Breach in the skin – cut or abrasion
Weak immune system
Prolonged exposure to HPV
Carrier of the HPV
Warm and most skin.

Treatment for Filiform warts

These are the most common courses of treatment for filiform warts:

Topical irritants (active substance has a keratolytic effect)

Salicylic acid application
- The active substances contained in this treatment will help the immune system to fight off the infection
- Several applications are recommended before the first results are noticeable (the wart will disappear)
Trichloroacetic acid
5-fluorouracil

Cryotherapy

Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the fleshy growths
After the actual procedure, blisters may appear in the treated area
Patients are recommended to wear bandages in the treated area and remove the dead skin after a week
Several sessions of freezing are required for a wart to completely disappear
The sessions are repeated every two to four weeks; depending on the size, number and location of the filiform warts, there will be four to six therapy sessions
There are patients who develop a severe local reaction to cryotherapy, so the freezing process is performed in a gradual manner
Potential side-effects of cryotherapy include:
- Pain
- Tendon injury
- Superficial nerve injury
- Skin discoloration
- Scars
- Warts re-occur

Cantharidin

Similar to cryotherapy
Causes the skin to blister
The blister dries up and the dead tissue is then removed

Minor surgery

The procedure is performed using a scalpel or an electric needle
Local anesthetic is applied before the surgery
Immediate removal, no second procedure is necessary
The skin might be scarred in the affected area
Electrosurgery involves two procedures, meaning curettage and cautery
The base of the filiform wart is burned by using diathermy or cautery
After the surgery, it takes almost two weeks for the wound to heal
Wart recurrence is expected

Laser removal

Recommended for filiform warts that are difficult to remove through other methods
Higher costs
Risk of scarring

Other choices of treatment include:

Occlusion with plaster or duct tape
Applications of cytotoxic agents
Systemic retinoids – these are only recommended for extensive warts
HPV vaccine (not treatment, protects against infection with the HPV).

Are Filiform warts contagious?

Filiform warts are highly contagious and this is the reason why you should avoid touching them on another person. Also, it might be a good idea not to share clothes, personal items and objects of personal hygiene with a person who has this infection. You should always remember that the HPV can be taken from a public place as well, so, be sure to use personal slippers when using a public shower or when walking around the pool. And, if you have cuts or abrasions on the skin, be sure to protect those areas with a plaster. In this way, you reduce the risk of the HPV entering your body and causing filiform warts to appear.