Should congenital nevi be removed?
While it won’t completely remove a congenital nevus, it can lighten its appearance. However, it can also leave scarring. Dermabrasion is most effective when done in the first six weeks of life.
Is a congenital nevus benign?
Congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) are visible pigmented (melanocytic) proliferations in the skin that are present at birth. CMN are benign, tumor-like malformations resulting from faulty development of pigment cell (melanocyte) precursors in the embryo, and composed of an abnormal mixture of skin elements.
What causes nevus birthmark?
These marks are thought to be caused by a localized increase in melanocytes as a baby grows in the womb. Melanocytes are the skin cells that produce melanin, which gives skin its color. A nevus has an increased amount of melanocytes. The condition is thought to be caused by a gene defect.
Is there a cure for congenital melanocytic nevus?
Giant congenital nevi are melanocytic proliferations of the skin that may be complicated by melanoma, neurocutaneous melanocytosis, pain, pruritus, and disfigurement. Current treatment options include surgical resection and medical management of associated symptoms. There is limited efficacy in these modalities.
Can a congenital mole become cancerous?
Most congenital nevi usually do not cause health problems, but a small percentage may develop into skin cancer (melanoma) later in life. The risk of melanoma increases with the size of the nevus.
Can a nevus be removed by laser?
Although use of lasers are successful for many superficial skin conditions, lasers generally cannot be relied upon to remove a pigmented nevus. Lasers can destroy the nevus cells near the surface of the skin. However, for a laser to destroy the deeper nevus cells there is a risk of scarring the skin.
Is congenital nevus painful?
Is it Painful? Although a large nevus doesn’t generally cause pain, some aspects of the affected skin can be uncomfortable. Nevus skin can itch. Also, since there is often a lack of fatty tissue under a nevus, it isn’t as well padded as other parts of the body so it may be more affected by continuous pressure.
How do you get rid of a large congenital melanocytic nevus?
Removal of a large nevus involves the replacement of the affected skin. Skin can be transferred from another area of the body (grafting), or adjacent skin can be stretched, then used to cover the area where the nevus was removed (tissue expansion).
Does melanoma run in families?
Around 10% of all people with melanoma have a family history of the disease. The increased risk might be because of a shared family lifestyle of frequent sun exposure, a family tendency to have fair skin, certain gene changes (mutations) that run in a family, or a combination of these factors.
What are the symptoms of giant congenital nevus?
In about 5% to 10% of the cases the giant congenital nevus is associated with neurocutaneous melanocytosis (excess pigment cells in the brain or spinal cord) and is characterized by neurological symptoms.
What do you need to know about congenital nevi?
Congenital Nevus (Mole) 1 A congenital nevus, also known as a mole,… 2 Signs and symptoms. Congenital nevi can be skin-colored, tan or brown. 3 Causes. Congenital nevi are thought to be caused by a genetic mutation, called a sporadic mutation,… 4 Treatment. Congenital moles will need to be monitored for skin cancer.
Can a congenital nevus be removed with surgical excision?
Treatment. Surgical excision remains the standard treatment for removing a congenital nevus. Your child’s physician may recommend the removal of moles with concerning changes, if it is a LCMN or GCN, and if the mole interferes (or may interfere) with your child’s functional development.
What kind of lesion is nevus comedonicus syndrome?
NEVUS COMEDONICUS SYNDROME. Nevus comedonicus is a skin lesion composed of closely-set, widened follicular openings that, in principle, belong to a hair follicle but in nevus comedonicus are plugged with keratin, a major structural protein found in the outer layer of skin as well as hair and nails.
