Definition, Common Types, Photos, Diagnosis, and Treatment

What is a nevus?

Nevus (plural: nevi) is the medical term for a mole. Nevi are very common. Most people have between 10 and 40. Common nevi are harmless collections of colored cells. They typically appear as small brown, tan, or pink spots.

You can be born with moles or develop them later. Moles that you’re born with are known as congenital moles. However, most moles develop during childhood and adolescence. This is known as an acquired nevus. Moles can also develop later in life as a result of sun exposure.

There are many types of nevi. Some of them are harmless and others more serious. Read on to learn about the different types and how to know whether you should get one checked out by your doctor.

Congenital nevus

A congenital nevus is a mole that you’re born with. They’re generally categorized as being small, medium, or giant in size. They vary in color, shape, and consistency. Some congenital nevi cover large areas of your body.

Common nevus

A common nevus is a smooth, round mole that’s all one color. You can be born with them, but most people develop them later in childhood. Common nevi can be flat or dome-shaped and may appear pink, tan, or brown.

Dysplastic nevus

Dysplastic nevus is another name for an atypical mole. These moles are benign (noncancerous) but often resemble melanoma. They may feature different colors, appear asymmetrical, or have odd borders. People with dysplastic nevi are at higher risk of developing melanoma.

Blue nevus

A blue nevus is a blue-colored mole that can be congenital or acquired. A common blue nevus may appear flat or dome-shaped with a color ranging from blue-grey to blue-black. Blue nevi are commonly found in people of Asian descent.

Miescher nevus

A Miescher nevus is a brownish or skin-colored, dome-shaped mole that commonly appears on your face or neck. It’s typically firm, round, smooth, and may have hair coming out of it.

Unna nevus

Unna nevi are soft, brownish moles that resemble Miescher nevi. They’re typically located on your trunk, arms, and neck. An Unna nevus may resemble a raspberry.

Meyerson nevus

Meyerson nevi are moles surrounded by a small ring of eczema, which is an itchy, red rash. They can appear on your skin regardless of whether you have a history of eczema. Meyerson nevi affect men nearly three times as often as women. Most develop around age 30.

Halo nevus

A halo nevus is a mole with a white ring of unpigmented skin around it. Over time, the mole in the center begins to fade from brown to pink before disappearing entirely. It’s not uncommon for someone to have several halo nevi at different stages of fading.

Spitz nevus

A Spitz nevus is a raised, pink, dome-shaped mole that typically appears before age 20. Spitz nevi can have different color. They may also bleed or ooze. This can make them hard to distinguish from a melanoma.

Reed nevus

A Reed nevus is a dark brown or black, raised, dome-shaped mole that most often affects women. These moles can grow quickly and may be mistaken for melanoma. They’re sometimes called spindle cell nevi because of the way they appear under a microscope.

Agminated nevus

An agminated nevus refers to a cluster of similar moles located on one area of your body. These groups of similar-looking moles can vary in appearance and type.

If you’re unsure of what type of nevus you have, it’s best to have your doctor or dermatologist take a look.

If your nevus seems to be changing or your doctor isn’t sure what it is, they might perform a skin biopsy. This is the only way to confirm or rule out skin cancer.

There are a few ways to do this:

• Shave biopsy. Your doctor uses a razor to shave off a sample of the top layers of your skin.
• Punch biopsy. Your doctor uses a special punch tool to remove a sample of skin that contains both the top and deeper layers of skin.
• Excisional biopsy. Your doctor uses a scalpel to remove your entire mole and some of the other skin around it.

Most moles are harmless and don’t require treatment. However, if you have a mole that’s cancerous or could become cancerous, you’ll likely need to have it removed. You can also choose to have a benign nevus removed if you don’t like the way it looks.

Most nevi are removed with either a shave or excisional biopsy. Your doctor will likely recommend doing an excisional biopsy for cancerous nevi to make sure that they remove everything.

Learn more about removing moles, including when you can do it at home.

Skin cancer is easiest to treat when it’s caught early. It’s important to know what to look for so you can recognize the signs early on.

Try to get in the habit of examining your skin once a month. Keep in mind that skin cancer can develop in areas that you can’t easily see, so use a mirror or ask a friend to help you if you need to. You can also check out our guide to screening yourself for skin cancer.

Doctors have a developed a system known as the ABCDE method to help people identify signs of skin cancer. Here’s what to look for:

• A is for asymmetrical shape. Look out for moles that look different on each side.
• B is for border. Moles should have solid borders, not irregular or curvy borders.
• C is for color. Check for any moles that contain several colors or uneven and splotchy color. Also note if any have changed in color.
• D is for diameter. Keep an eye on moles that are larger than a pencil eraser.
• E is for evolving. Look for any changes in a mole’s size, color, shape, or height. Also watch for any new symptoms, such as bleeding or itchiness.

You can keep track of your existing moles and changes by using this body map and chart from the American Academy of Dermatology.

Nevi come in many shapes and sizes but most of them are harmless. Still, it’s important to keep an eye on your moles because changes could indicate a problem. If you’re worried about one or more of your moles, don’t hesitate to get it checked out by your doctor. They can do a biopsy to rule out skin cancer.

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photos, symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment

Nevus is a benign skin neoplasm consisting of pigmented cells. It can be congenital or appear during life. Looks like a spot or a bulging pea. The color varies from flesh to dark brown. When exposed to ultraviolet radiation and other adverse conditions, it can degenerate into a malignant tumor.

In simple terms, a nevus is a mole. Every person has such formations and often does not manifest themselves in any way. But sometimes they need to be removed – if they spoil the appearance, or there is a risk of degeneration into cancer.

In the clinic of Bilyak, any skin neoplasms are easily and painlessly removed. Our doctors select the removal method individually for each patient. They remove the mole without leaving marks on the skin.

Causes of appearance

Skin nevus can be congenital or acquired. The first are laid in the process of intrauterine development. The process of migration of pigment cells is disrupted, as a result, they accumulate in the skin. A child can be born already with nevi, or they appear in the first months of life. Usually, congenital moles are inherited – if the parents have a lot of them, then the child will also have them.

Acquired nevus on the skin appears when:

• Hormonal changes – during puberty, pregnancy, age-related changes in the body. Endocrine pathologies can cause active growth of moles, a change in their shape.
• Exposure to ultraviolet radiation – in people who like to sunbathe in the sun or in a solarium, insolation of the skin occurs, due to which melanin is actively produced. This provokes the formation of moles.
• X-ray and radiation – under the influence of active particles, pigmented cells move to the epidermis, forming a dermal nevus.
• Frequent skin infections – rash, irritation, acne cause inflammatory changes in tissues.

Classification of nevi

Neoplasms of this type are classified according to several parameters. Localization:

1. Intradermal nevus is an accumulation of pigment cells formed in the deep layers of the dermis. This type is the most common. It rises above the skin and resembles a dome in shape, sometimes it has a hairline on top. It can be located both on a wide base and on a leg. This type of neoplasm is also called intradermal nevus. It is usually benign, but can be easily injured. Because of this, degeneration into a cancerous tumor is possible.
2. Epidermal nevus – accumulation of cells in the upper skin layer (epidermis). These formations are most often flat, but may rise slightly above the surface of the skin. As a rule, they do not pose a danger.
3. Mixed – pigment cells accumulate at the border of the dermis and epidermis. Most often, these are flat brown spots that do not rise above the skin.

By size:

• small – up to 1.5 mm in diameter;
• medium – with a diameter of 1.5-10 mm;
• large – over 10 mm;
• giant – occupy a large area of ​​the body.

Symptoms

Moles can be recognized by their appearance. It differs depending on its type. For example, an intradermal nevus usually has the shape of a pea that rises above the skin. It can grow into the skin, or be located on the leg. The color varies from flesh to black.

Linear epidermal nevus looks like a dot or spot, the color varies from brown to black. Usually it is on the same level with the skin, but sometimes it can rise above it.

Usually these growths do not cause discomfort and do not show any symptoms other than visual. But sometimes they can be accidentally injured, rubbed with clothes, damaged with sharp objects. In this case, they can hurt and bleed, interfere with the person.

Nevus most commonly occurs on the head, neck, and other exposed areas of the body. Often they form on the back, chest and limbs. They can also be localized on the mucous membranes.

Possible complications

In most cases, these skin lesions are harmless. But under the influence of sunlight, they can degenerate into a malignant tumor – melanoma. The intradermal melanocytic nevus is most at risk.

Diagnostics

To understand how dangerous education is, you need to contact a dermatologist. He will conduct a dermatoscopy – an examination with a special device with multiple magnification. At the same time, color, uniformity of edges, shape, size are evaluated. Based on these data, the doctor calculates the dermatological index of the tumor.

It is recommended to have this examination every year. This allows you to study them in dynamics. The doctor draws up a map of moles and notes if there are changes in shape, size, color.

If the surface of the mole is cracked and bleeding, a swab is taken. It is sent for histological examination and carefully examined with a microscope. This allows you to understand whether there is a degeneration into a malignant process.

Treatment

Most often, epidermal and intradermal skin nevus does not require treatment. If it does not bother a person, it is better not to touch it. Some people themselves want to remove them for cosmetic reasons. But with this you need to be careful. Before removal, you should consult a doctor.

Today, sparing cosmetic methods are used to remove the nevus without pain and a trace. These include cryotherapy, laser destruction, electrocoagulation. But the most reliable is still surgical excision. It allows you to safely remove the intradermal pigmented nevus without the risk of a malignant process. Also, this method is resorted to if melanoma is suspected.

Peculiarities of treatment in the clinic

Surgeons of the Bilyak Clinic use sparing methods of excision of skin neoplasms. This allows you to carry out the operation as accurately as possible, without leaving a trace. Before prescribing treatment for you, our doctors will conduct a thorough examination. This will help you understand if you can remove the nevus, or if it is better not to touch it. If there is a risk of degeneration into cancer, surgeons will remove the intradermal nevus of the skin, and then send the removed tissue for histology.

To consult about a suspicious mole, make an appointment now!

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does treatment cost at the Bilyak Clinic?

The cost of all operations can be found on a special page of the site

What is included in the cost of the operation?

The cost of the operation at the Bilyak Clinic includes the full provision of the patient, namely:
– surgical and medical support
– food and accommodation
– round-the-clock supervision of medical personnel
– dressings and all nursing procedures

Who performs surgeries and treats diseases in the Bilyak Clinic?

Operations in the Bilyak Clinic are performed by Ph. D. Full description: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Nevus (pigmented spot, pigmented nevus, melanocytic nevus) is a benign neoplasm, which in most cases is a congenital malformation of the skin.

In a limited area, an accumulation of special cells is formed – nevocytes, which contain a large amount of melanin pigment.

Nevocytes are pathologically altered melanocytes – cells that normally synthesize melanin and give color to the skin. Non-cellular nevus is a synonym for pigmented nevus. Mole and nevus are also identical concepts (the term itself comes from the Latin word naevus – “mole”).

A dermatologist deals with the treatment and prevention of nevi.

Specialist consultation can be obtained by phone: +7(495) 961-27-67

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Types of nevi:

Melanocytic nevi come in a wide variety of shapes, colors and sizes. Until now, among doctors there is no unambiguous opinion about which formations should be denoted by the word “nevus”.

Therefore, sometimes benign skin tumors that do not contain melanin pigment are called nevi: Hemangiomas are vascular tumors.

The concept of “ strawberry nevus ” is especially common – a red hemangioma, which is present in most newborns, and disappears during the first year of life.

Also, many doctors operate with such a concept as vascular nevus .

Nevi of the sebaceous glands – in most cases located on the head, also do not contain melanin. Such a neoplasm is known as a sebaceous nevus.

Sometimes in born nevi in children are also called teratomas (hamartomas), which, in fact, are congenital tumors, consisting not only of the skin, but also of all other tissues.

Anemic nevus is a type of vascular nevus. This is an area of ​​the skin on which the vessels are underdeveloped, so it has a lighter color.

True melanoform nevus is a formation that originates from altered melanocyte cells – nevocytes.

There are the following types of nevi:

Non-cellular borderline nevus – a simple spot that does not rise on the skin, or slightly protrudes above its surface. The border nevus has clear contours and a brown color. It can have different sizes and be located on different parts of the body. With this type of melanoform nevus, the accumulation of cells with pigment is located between the upper (epidermis) and middle (dermis) layers of the skin – this arrangement is referred to as an intraepidermal nevus.

Intradermal nevus is the most common type of melanoform nevus. It is so called because the accumulation of pigment cells is located in the thickness of the middle layer of the skin – the dermis.

Pigmented complex nevus of the skin. Such a nevus looks like a mole: it rises on the skin and can have a different color, from light brown to almost black. Often coarse hair grows on it. A mixed nevus has a smooth surface and can be found on any part of the body.

Intradermal nevus. Also protrudes above the skin surface, but, unlike the complex nevus, has an uneven, bumpy surface. Almost always located on the head or neck, very rarely – on the trunk. In most cases, intraepidermal nevus appears at the age of 10-30 years.

Over time, it sort of separates from the skin, and is located on a thin stalk. Often then it turns into a papillomatous nevus (warty nevus). A large number of irregularities, folds and crevices form in it, in which dead cells of the upper layer accumulate. Pathogenic organisms can accumulate here, which then lead to infectious processes.

Nevus blue has a characteristic coloration as it is associated with deposits of melanin under the skin. Blue nevi are characteristic mainly of Asian nationalities. They rise slightly above the skin, dense to the touch, their surface is always smooth, hair never grows on it. The blue nevus has a small size, most often no more than five millimeters.

Basal nevus also has the appearance of a mole, but most often it has a normal skin color. This is an unpigmented nevus.

Seton’s nevus (Setton’s nevus, Sutton’s nevus, halo nevus) is a special kind of dermal nevus, when there is a skin area completely devoid of pigment around the pigment spot. The origin of such nevi is not yet fully understood. They are often combined with vitiligo (loss of skin pigments), melanomas. Most often, in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe halo nevus, there is a slight inflammation in the skin.

Nevus of Ota. Located on the face, on the one hand, in the form of “dirty” spots.

Nevus Ita resembles nevus Ota, but it is located under the collarbone, on the chest, in the region of the scapula and neck. Both of these varieties are found mainly among representatives of Asian peoples.

Papillomatous nevus (warty nevus). A papilloma-like nevus is often large, located on the head or back of the neck, but may be located elsewhere. It has an uneven surface, like a wart. It often has hair on it.

Becker’s nevus (hairy epidermal nevus) – more often this occurs in boys and young men 10-15 years old. First, several small spots form on the body, which are light brown or brown in color, and are nearby. Then they merge and form spots with uneven contours up to 20 cm in size. After that, the spots acquire an uneven warty surface and are covered with hair. It is believed that the growth of Becker’s nevi results in the release into the blood of a large amount of male sex hormones – androgens.

Linear nevus is a neoplasm that appears from birth. It is a set of small nodules, from light to almost black in color, which are located on the skin in the form of a chain. A linear nevus can take up just a couple of centimeters, or maybe the entire arm or leg. Sometimes it grows hair.

Nevus of the eye is a pigmented nevus that is located on the iris. It is clearly visible in the form of a spot, which can have different sizes and shapes. Also, the nevus of the eye can be located on the retina: in this case, it is detected only during examination by an ophthalmologist.

Specialist consultation can be obtained by phone: +7(495) 961-27-67

All skin nevi can be classified by size:

• small nevi measuring 0.5 – 1.5 cm;
• medium non-dermal nevi – 1.5 – 10 cm;
• large pigmented nevi are larger than 10 cm;
• if the nevus is located on the whole area of ​​the body, occupying it almost entirely, then it is called giant.

Over time, the appearance of pigmented nevi may change. Their total number on the body also changes: It is far from always possible to detect nevi on the body of a newborn. Only in 4 – 10% of infants, moles can be detected. If nevi are large from birth, then they are most dangerous in terms of malignancy (transition to melanoma).

In adolescence (10–15 years), dermal nevi can be found in 90% of individuals.

On average, a person aged 20-25 years old can count up to 40 moles on his body.

After 30 years, only 15-20 nevi remain on the skin.

In a person who has reached 80 – 85 years old, it is almost impossible to detect nevi on the body. Such dynamics is associated with changes in hormonal levels during a person’s life.

Causes:

Many researchers are inclined to think that absolutely all pigmented nevi, even those that appear with age, are congenital malformations of the skin.

Violations that lead to the formation of this benign tumor occur even in the embryonic state of the body. To date, all congenital causes of the formation of dysplastic nevi have not yet been studied.

The main factors are:

Fluctuations in the level of sex hormones in the body of a pregnant woman:

• progestins and estrogens.
• Infections of the genitourinary system in pregnant women. Impact on the body of a pregnant woman of adverse factors: toxic substances, radiation.
• Genetic disorders. Under the influence of all these factors, the development of melanoblasts, cells from which melanocytes are subsequently formed, is disrupted. As a result, melanoblasts accumulate in certain areas of the skin and transform into nevocyte cells.

Nevocytes differ from normal melanocytes in two ways:

• They do not have processes along which the pigment could spread to other skin cells;
• Dysplastic nevi obey the general regulatory systems of the body worse, but, unlike cancer cells, they have not completely lost this ability.

It is believed that with age, new pigmented nevi do not appear, but only those that existed from birth, but were not noticeable, manifest themselves. The following causes may initiate the manifestation of new melanocytic nevi:

• Hormonal changes in the body. This is very clearly manifested in adolescence, when most of the nevi appear on the body.
• Action on the skin of ultraviolet rays. Frequent sunbathing and solariums contribute to the growth of age spots.
• Pregnancy. As noted above, this is due to fluctuations in the level of sex hormones in a woman’s body.
• Menopause.
• Taking contraceptives.
• Inflammatory and allergic skin diseases (acne, dermatitis, various rashes).

Nevus diagnostics:

A doctor who diagnoses a nevus has a number of important tasks:

• determine the type of nevus and determine the possibilities of its treatment;
• in time to recognize the beginning of the process of malignancy of the pigment spot;
• to determine the indications for additional diagnostic methods.

The examination of the patient begins classically with a conversation and examination. During the questioning, the doctor establishes important details: when did the non-dermal nevus appear.

It is especially important whether it is present from birth, or has arisen with age; how education has behaved in recent times:

• increased in size,
• whether it changed the color, contours, general appearance;
• have you been previously diagnosed and treated, what was the result

Direct contact with the patient is very important. Not a single professional specialist will undertake to diagnose and treat a nevus from a photo. After questioning the patient, an examination follows. The doctor must evaluate the shape, size, location of the nevus, the presence of hair on it, and other features. After that, an accurate diagnosis can already be made and certain therapeutic measures are planned.

If necessary, the doctor prescribes additional diagnostic methods. Most often, smears from the surface of the nevus are used. Absolute indications for this study are weeping, bleeding, cracks on the surface of the pigment spot. During the smear, material is obtained, which is then studied using a microscope.

Laboratory diagnostics is used to establish the process of degeneration of a nevus into melanoma. When the pigment spot becomes malignant, special substances appear in the patient’s blood – tumor markers. Their detection allows you to accurately establish the diagnosis, since only with melanoma in the blood are two molecules called TA90 and SU100. In other malignant tumors, other tumor markers are detected.

To conduct an analysis for tumor markers, clear indications are necessary: ​​the doctor must have good reason to suspect the transition of the nevus to melanoma. In addition, the removal of a dermal nevus itself can become a diagnostic procedure.

After the pigment spot is removed, the doctor sends it for histological examination. The matrial is examined under a microscope and, if a malignant degeneration is detected, the patient is again asked to come to the clinic.

Nevus treatment:

Currently, there are several treatments for pigmented nevi, both surgically and alternatively.

Indications are determined only by the attending physician, taking into account two factors:

• Features of the pigment spot itself: variety, size, risk of transition to melanoma.

• Availability of necessary equipment in the hospital

Surgical method

Surgical removal of a pigmented nevus (using a scalpel) is the most common technique, since it does not require special equipment and is reliable.

Cryodestruction

Cryodestruction is a method that involves the treatment of a nevus with the help of freezing. After treatment with low temperatures, the pigmented spot dies off and turns into a scab (crust), under which new normal skin grows. Treatment of a nevus with low temperature can only be carried out if it is small and located superficially, but not strongly protruding above the skin.

Electrocoagulation

This is a technique that is the opposite of cryocoagulation. The excision of the nevus is carried out under the influence of high temperature. The procedure is painful, therefore, it requires the use of local anesthesia, and in children – only general anesthesia.

Laser therapy

Removal of nevi with a laser is a treatment method that is widely used in modern beauty salons. It is great for removing small moles on the face, neck and other parts of the body. Laser radiation is characterized in that it is able to penetrate the skin to a great depth within a precisely specified area. At the same time, scars, burns, scars and other complications are not formed. The procedure is painless.

Radiosurgical techniques

In recent years, radiosurgery has been increasingly used in world medicine. The essence of these techniques is that a special device – a radio knife (surgitron) generates a beam of radioactive radiation, which is concentrated only in the area of ​​​​the pathological focus, without harming healthy surrounding tissues.