National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus

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Other Names:
ILVEN; Linear verrucose epidermal nevus; Verrucous epidermal nevus; ILVEN; Linear verrucose epidermal nevus; Verrucous epidermal nevus; Verrucous nevus; Inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal naevus; Inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus See More
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Subtypes:
Inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus (ILVEN) is a type of skin overgrowth, called epidermal nevus. It is characterized by skin colored, brown, or reddish, wart-like papules (nevi). The nevi join to form patches or plaques that often follow a pattern on the skin known as the "lines of Blaschko". The affected areas of the skin may be red, itchy, and inflamed. ILVEN typically presents from birth to early childhood and often is limited to one side of the lower half of the body. It affects females more often than males.[1][2][3] It usually occurs alone; however, rarely ILVEN can be associated with other symptoms as part of an epidermal nevus syndrome.[2] Rarely, ILVEN can become cancerous (for example, basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma).[4]

ILVEN is caused by a genetic change that occurs after conception (somatic mutation). How this alteration leads to the signs and symptoms of ILVEN is not well understood.[3][4] There is no one treatment or cure for ILVEN. Products used to soften the skin (emollients), moisturizers, and topical steroids may be utilized to relieve symptoms of dryness and itching.[1] Recently, several patients have been treated with laser therapy with good results.[5]
Last updated: 10/16/2018

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Organizations Supporting this Disease

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • DermNet NZ is an online resource about skin diseases developed by the New Zealand Dermatological Society Incorporated. DermNet NZ provides information about this condition.

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Selected Full-Text Journal Articles

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  • Is this is a genetic disease and can it be transmitted from a mother to her baby? See answer


  1. Vanessa Ngan. Inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus. DermNet NZ. 2003; http://www.dermnetnz.org/lesions/ilven.html.
  2. Teresa S Wright. Epidermal nevus and epidermal nevus syndrome. UpToDate. July 2016; http://www.uptodate.com/contents/epidermal-nevus-and-epidermal-nevus-syndrome.
  3. Robert A Schwartz. Epidermal Nevus Syndrome Clinical Presentation. Medscape. Jun 6, 2016; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1117506-clinical#showall.
  4. C. Anand Kumar, Garima Yeluri, Namita Raghav. Inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus syndrome with its polymorphic presentation - A rare case report. Contemp Clin Dent.. Jan-Mar 2012; v.3(1):http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3341748/.
  5. Osman MA & Kassab AN. Carbon dioxide laser versus erbium:YAG laser in treatment of epidermal verrucous nevus: a comparative randomized clinical study. J Dermatolog Treat. November 13, 2016; 1-6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27796132.
  6. S. M. Ravi Prakash, Swati Gupta, Nagaraju Kamarthi, Sumit Goel. Inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus and regional odontodysplasia: A rare sorority. Indian J Dent. Oct-Dec 2015; 6(4):203-206. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4691991/.