Nevus is a common skin abnormality that appears as a dark spot on the body caused by pigment-producing cells clustered together.
There are different types of nevi, including junctional, compound, blue, and Spitz nevus.
They are generally harmless but can affect sweat glands and skin texture. A doctor should check any skin abnormality to ensure it is benign. A plastic surgeon can remove some, but the process can leave scars.
Nevus is a medical term for birthmark or mole. It is the most common skin abnormality, appearing as a dark spot anywhere on the body. They have no apparent function and are generally harmless.
Nevomelanocytes are pigment-producing cells usually distributed evenly in human skin. In the area of a nevus, these cells are found in great concentration or clustered together. This creates a dark colour or spot on the leather. The colour of nevi ranges from light brown to almost black, depending on the type and concentration of pigment.
The skin on the birthmark or mole may differ from the rest of the skin on the body. In addition to more pigment, some types produce more hair. Their formation can disturb the production of sweat glands, hindering the affected area’s ability to sweat. They often lack subcutaneous fat, which makes the skin thinner and less resilient. Sometimes, a nevus produces thicker or rougher pebble-textured skin.
A mole present at birth is congenital, often called a birthmark. One that develops after birth is called an acquired nevus or mole. Birthmarks develop in the uterus within the first 12 weeks of gestation. No evidence suggests they are hereditary, and they vary significantly in size and location.
These signs are usually harmless. Usually a benign growth (showing no signs of cancer), they have a visual abnormality but no inherent medical risk. An atypical nevus may share some of the characteristics of melanoma without showing any signs of cancer. A doctor should check any skin abnormality to ensure it is benign and not malignant (cancerous).
Giant, conspicuous nevi are a problem for some, as their appearance can generate unwanted curiosity or attention. Although about 1 in 100 babies are born with a nevus, nearly everyone will have 20 to 40 small moles on their body by adulthood. Because one can occur on the face or other conspicuous body parts, they are sometimes annoying or embarrassing to those with them.
There are support groups for people uncomfortable with their appearance due to nevi. A plastic surgeon can remove some, but the process can be painful and leave large, visible scars.
An acquired type is a junctional nevus. This type of mole is flat, brown to black, and slightly raised. A compound nevus is similar to a junctional nevus, except that coarse hairs may be present.
A blue nevus is dome-shaped and blue to black. It usually develops in childhood or adolescence. Spitz nevus is brown to pink in colour and dome-shaped; they are most commonly found on the head, neck or arms and are present in infancy. Spitz nevus can look similar to melanoma and may cause initial concern, but they are benign.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
