My teenage daughter keeps getting this spiky, thread-like little skin bump growing on her neck. She has a recital tomorrow. What is this?

and when it’s worth calling a doctor or dermatologist instead of guessing.

1. What a filiform wart usually looks like

A filiform wart is a small growth caused by certain strains of human papillomavirus, or HPV. Unlike the flatter warts many of us remember from fingers or knees, these are slender and often look like a tiny thread, spine, brush bristle, or soft little spike sticking up from the skin. They may be only 1 to 5 millimeters wide at the base but can project 2 to 10 millimeters outward, which is why they catch the eye so quickly.

Color can vary. Some are flesh-colored, some are a little pink, tan, or slightly darker than the surrounding skin. On the neck, they may stand alone or appear in a small cluster of 2 or 3. The surface can be smooth-ish at first, then a bit rougher as they grow. They usually