Fibrous papule of the nose pictures

Author/s: Dr Amanda Oakley, Dermatologist, New Zealand, 2008. Updated: Dr Shawn Jordan, House Officer, ADHB; Honorary A/Prof Paul Jarrett, Dermatologist, CMDHB and Department of Medicine, The University of Auckland, New Zealand. Copy edited by Gus Mitchell. November 2021


What is a fibrous papule of the nose?

A fibrous papule of the nose is a common and harmless skin lesion. It is a firm solitary papule that occurs on or around the nose and has a characteristic appearance under the microscope.

A fibrous papule of the nose may also be known as a fibrous papule of the face, solitary angiofibroma, or sporadic angiofibroma.

Who gets fibrous papules?

Fibrous papules are common and may affect anyone. They usually appear during late adolescence and early adulthood. Multiple fibrous papules can be present without any underlying disorder.

The presence of multiple fibrous papules may be associated with genetic conditions including tuberous sclerosis, Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome, and multiple neuroendocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). In these conditions, the papules are numerous and widespread, often beyond the nasal area. They are harmless apart from the psychological problems they may cause due to their visible appearance.

What causes fibrous papules?

The cause of fibrous papules is not known.

What are the clinical features of fibrous papules? 

They are often a single solitary lesion on or around the nose. The fibrous papule of the nose is dome-shaped, firm, non-tender, measuring approximately 1–6 mm in diameter. It can be skin-coloured, pigmented, white, or red in colour.

Fibrous papule of the nose

What are the complications of fibrous papules?

Fibrous papules are benign with no malignant potential. 

How are fibrous papules diagnosed?

A fibrous papule is diagnosed by skin biopsy.

There are distinctive microscopic features including:

  • Proliferation of fibroblasts, stellate, spindle, and multinucleated cells
  • A fibrotic stroma
  • Dilated blood vessels.

Many of the histological features may also be seen in other types of angiofibromas and it can be difficult to distinguish them histologically. For this reason, a fibrous papule is currently considered to be a variant of angiofibroma. There are several histological subtypes of fibrous papules including:

  • Hypercellular
  • Clear cell
  • Pigmented
  • Granular
  • Epithelioid
  • Pleomorphic
  • Inflammatory.

See also the clear cell fibrous papule pathology page.

What is the differential diagnosis for a fibrous papule?

Fibrous papules may be similar in appearance to other skin lesions. They can be differentiated via biopsy and other clinical features:

  • Basal cell carcinoma
  • Melanocytic naevus
  • Dermatofibroma
  • Adnexal neoplasms including trichoepithelioma, trichofolliculoma, trichodiscoma, and perifollicular fibroma.

What is the treatment for a fibrous papule?

Fibrous papules are harmless, do not require any treatment, and remain stable. They may be removed for cosmetic reasons by shave biopsy, excision, cryotherapy, laser therapy, and electrosurgery.

Once removed, fibrous papules rarely recur.

51572 34 Information for
caption goes here...

Images of Fibrous Papule of Nose

Fibrous papule of the nose pictures

Overview

A fibrous papule of the nose is a harmless, small, raised pimple-like growth (papule) on the nose or central face that feels firm to the touch and is skin-colored or pink. There is usually a single papule, but you may have multiple papules.

Who's at risk?

Fibrous papules of the nose are seen in equal numbers of middle-aged men and women, regardless of race or ethnicity.

Signs and Symptoms

The fibrous papule will not cause any symptoms like pain or itching. However, papules may become inflamed or bleed when irritated or scratched.

Self-Care Guidelines

Follow a normal skin-cleaning routine.

When to Seek Medical Care

If the papule changes in appearance, or other symptoms develop, you should contact your doctor to rule out other possible causes. Your doctor may perform a biopsy to make sure of the diagnosis.

Treatments Your Physician May Prescribe

For cosmetic purposes, you may choose to have the papule removed by shave excision. This may leave a scar.

MedlinePlus: Nose Injuries and Disorders
Clinical Information and Differential Diagnosis of Fibrous Papule of Nose

References

Ko CJ. Chapter 66: Dermal hypertrophies and benign fibroblastic/myofibroblastic tumors. In: Goldsmith LA, Katz SI, Gilchrest BA, Paller AS, Leffell DJ, Wolff K, eds. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 8th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2012:707-717.

Taylor RS, Srivastava D. Appendage tumors and hamartomas of the skin. In: Goldsmith LA, Katz SI, Gilchrest BA, Paller AS, Leffell DJ, Wolff K, eds. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 8th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2012:1337-1362.

What does fibrous papule look like?

A fibrous papule is usually firm and like a small dome but occasionally can stick out a little more, much like a small wart or skin tag. A fibrous papule may be skin coloured or red.

How do I get rid of fibrous papules on my nose?

What is the treatment for a fibrous papule? Fibrous papules are harmless, do not require any treatment, and remain stable. They may be removed for cosmetic reasons by shave biopsy, excision, cryotherapy, laser therapy, and electrosurgery.

Can you pick off a fibrous papule?

While fibrous papules are generally harmless, they can sometimes be a source of cosmetic concern. If a fibrous papule is large or appears on a visible area of the face, it may be removed for aesthetic reasons.

Do fibrous papules grow back after removal?

Fibrous papules tend not to reoccur after shave biopsy removal.