Is nevus a benign tumor?

A benign (not cancer) growth on the skin that is formed by a cluster of melanocytes (cells that make a substance called melanin, which gives color to skin and eyes). A nevus is usually dark and may be raised from the skin. Also called mole.

What causes benign nevi?

sun damage, especially for those with fairer skin. immunosuppressive treatments, such as those used in cancer, which can cause more moles to develop. genetic factors, such as your parents having a lot of moles, which makes it more likely that you will have them as too.

How do you get rid of benign nevi?

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.

What does a benign nevus look like?

While benign moles are usually a single shade of brown, a melanoma may have different shades of brown, tan or black. As it grows, the colors red, white or blue may also appear.

Should I remove nevus?

There are several reasons that patients sometimes decide to undergo removal of a large nevus. Most of the time, the overriding reasons to remove a congenital pigmented nevus are first to reduce melanoma risk and second to improve appearance which can be fundamental to improving a patient’s overall psychosocial state.

Can nevus turn cancerous?

A dysplastic nevus may develop into melanoma (a type of skin cancer), and the more dysplastic nevi a person has, the higher the risk of melanoma. A dysplastic nevus is sometimes called an atypical mole.

Can benign moles turn cancerous?

A benign mole can sometimes develop into skin cancer. Skin cancer arising from a benign mole is malignant melanoma, which is a very dangerous type of skin cancer that can be fatal if not treated early.

What does a nevus look like?

A common mole (nevus) is a small growth on the skin that is usually pink, tan, or brown and has a distinct edge. A dysplastic nevus is often large and does not have a round or oval shape or a distinct edge. It may have a mixture of pink, tan, or brown shades.