About moles and whether they need to be removed?

Types of nevi

- An intradermal nevus is a cluster of pigment cells formed in the deep layers of the dermis. It can be located both on a wide base and on a pedicle.
- Epidermal nevus is a cluster of cells in the epidermis. These formations most often look like flat brown spots.
- Complex (combined) - pigment cells accumulate at the border of the dermis and epidermis, the nevus seems to consist of two parts - convex and flat.
- Blue nevus is a mole that has a characteristic blue or dark blue color. If such a mole has a uniform color, is symmetrical and does not change its size, it is not dangerous.
- A halo nevus or Seton's nevus is a mole that has a characteristic white corolla around the periphery. This corolla of hypopigmentation usually occurs in response to an autoimmune reaction that occurs after trauma to the mole or receiving a certain dose of ultraviolet radiation. In most cases, such a mole gradually disappears over several years.
- Meyerson's nevus - its main feature is the presence of an eczema rim around an ordinary mole.
- Spitz nevus is a rare neoplasm that in most cases occurs in childhood and adolescence (from 5 to 20 years), more often on the face and extremities. Nevus is benign, although it is characterized by unusually rapid growth.
-A dysplastic nevus is a benign acquired nevus that has external or histologic (internal) features that resemble melanoma. Unlike a normal nevus, a dysplastic nevus is characterized by: larger size (diameter > 5 mm), less regular shape (asymmetry), fuzzy borders (blurred), uneven color.

Do nevi need to be removed?

In general, there are three indications for nevi removal:
- medical - if there is a high risk or signs of degeneration;
- functional - if the location of the neoplasm causes frequent injuries due to clothing or accessories;
- cosmetic - if the patient does not like it aesthetically.
If the patient has indications for nevus removal, or the formation worries him or her because of its color or shape, a dermatoscopic examination of this formation is mandatory. Digital dermatoscopy and the creation of a "mole map" allows you to use special equipment to record all pigmented neoplasms on the skin, measure their area, diameter, pigmentation and further monitor these changes, as well as the appearance of new moles or malignant neoplasms, and also allows you to determine which method of removal is appropriate in a particular case.
The optimal method of removal is selected by the doctor after examination. All melanocytic lesions are removed with subsequent pathological examination in the laboratory.

Author: Dermatologist Olga Bahriy