What are filiform warts?
Filiform warts are termed after their ‘finger-like’ look and are in some cases deliberated as the most physically unattractive blemish out of the whole wart family.
Filiform warts are characteristically long and thin warts, which are close to the tone of the skin. As the color of warts closely resembles the color of the skin, it comes to be hard to spot them in the beginning.
They have long, narrow protuberances that stretch out around 1-2 mm from the skin.
Since they have a tendency to form around eyelids and lips, they are also recognized as facial warts; however, they can likewise spread speedily to different parts of the body.
Symptoms Of Filiform Warts
Filiform warts are brush-like in appearance, however, are by and large painless but may cause following symptoms:
Area: In spite of the fact that there is no specific place for a wart to appear, it mostly appears in the facial area. The most widely recognized spots are on eyelids, lip area, around the nose and in the neck area. [01]
Color: This can be the second point to explore whether it’s a Filiform wart or not. Despite the fact that most warts are dark in color, facial warts will seamlessly match the complexion of the facial skin.
Itching: Itching is one more symptom around the growth site which will itch violently. This occurs as the infection gradually makes strides and begins spreading gradually.
Bleeding: This is commonly observed when the wart has achieved its advanced stage. As the infection spreads, the skin loses its ability to heal and starts to break. As this happens, draining begins, exacerbating things for the individual.
Rough skin: Rough skin in the adjacent area of a wart is an indication generally triggered by high amounts of the hard protein keratin.
Clotted Blood Vessels: Clotted blood vessels are a normal symptom of warts and naturally, manifest as a little, shoot speck in the centre of the filiform wart.
A blood vessel can rupture, permitting blood plasma to spill into the surrounding tissues, producing slight irritation as well as inflammation.
Causes of Filiform Warts
The major cause is the transmission of the human papillomavirus (HPV). More than hundred strains of human papillomavirus exist yet just a couple of them cause filiform warts. Common ways of the transmission of HPV transmission comprises of:
Touch: Filiform warts can spread between individuals when one individual touches a wart or an HPV-infected area on someone else. It can likewise spread starting with one area of the body then onto the next when a person first touches an area of infection and then touches another part of his/her body. [02]
HPV can spread particularly rapid through broken areas of skin.
Shared Clothing: Filiform warts can spread from clothing, towels and other fabrics that have come into contact with a wart or another infected part. [02]
Contact through Articles: HPV can survive in environments, for example, shower floors, concrete encompassing pools and even shoe Contact with human papillomavirus left behind these surfaces can bring about the spread of the virus. [03]
Weak Immune System: An immune system is very important with regards to prevent from viral infections, for example, the flu, the cold or even the human papillomavirus. Keeping up the immune system is imperative and one should look at the lifestyle, diet and stress levels to ward off filiform in a natural way.
Poor Nutrition: The nutrients work to keep the immune system healthy, by nourishing skin cells, improving blood circulation and so on. If the diet lacks healthy nutrients, it will result in malnutrition, making a person more vulnerable to develop filiform warts.
How Does It Spread?
While filiform warts are benign and frequently asymptomatic, they are exceedingly contagious.
Filiform warts can spread to different parts of your body or to other individuals, particularly if there is an open wound.
The possibility of transmission may rise if there will be:
- An open cut or scraped area on the skin
- Decreased immunity
- Warm plus moist skin
- Constant exposure to the virus
How to Get Rid of Filiform Warts? – Removal tips
These warts can be removed by the number of ways.
Several home remedies are available and it can also be removed with help of surgery, cryotherapy and by applying otc wart removal solutions.
But while applying OTC solutions, you should be careful if the wart is on the face or near the sensitive area like eyes.
Home Remedies for Filiform Warts:
Fortunately, there are extensive ways to treat filiform warts naturally, some of which are:
Apple cider vinegar: The liquid is highly acidic and anti-bacterial that make it appropriate for treating filiform warts.
Potatoes: Rub wart with half a potato or applying the peel to the affected area. It is said that the chemicals and potassium levels in the potato have the have the ability to break up and expel a wart.
Horseradish juice: It is considered to ease the redness and discolouration related to facial warts, fading their appearance.
OTC Medicines
There are a variety of convention medicines available to help you ease and reduce your external wart symptoms.
Salicylic Acid
The only safe and viable nonprescription wart drug is salicylic acid.
Preparations are accessible in the form of:
- Gels or collodion based liquids (5%-17% salicylic acid)
- Patches (12%-40%)
- Karaya gum/glycol patch (15%)
Surgical Removal
Most warts are removed through following common procedures:
- Excision: It will be done with a scalpel, blade, or another instrument to shave or snip the filiform wart.
- Burning (curettage): Burning is a common treatment in which filiform wart will be scraped off before or after the electrosurgery.
- Cryotherapy: This is a common treatment for warts in which liquid nitrogen will be sprayed to freeze the wart.
- Laser Surgery: Laser surgery is the treatment when conventional methods failed to treat it. A concentrated beam of light is used in the procedure to burn warts and infected cells.
How to Prevent Filiform Warts
To prevent it from spreading:
- Wash hands frequently, particularly when the wart is touched.
- Avoid picking warts.
- Cover warts with a bandage.
- Keep the areas dry around your warts.
Bottom Line
Filiform warts are dangerous in a way that it’s contagious. Moreover, it affects a person’s appearance cosmetically and disturbs him/her psychologically. It is important to keep a healthy lifestyle and take precautionary measures to avoid developing filiform warts. Once developed, treatment should be started soon to stop its progression.
References:
[01] InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Warts: Overview. 2014 Jul 30 [Updated 2017 May 4]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279586/
[02] How is HPV spread?. Department of Health, New York State. https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/3837/
[03] Possible non‐sexual modes of transmission of human papilloma virus. Sasidharanpillai Sabeena, Parvati Bhat, Veena Kamath, Govindakarnavar Arunkumar doi: 10.1111/jog.13248