Blue nevus
Blue nevus is a common skin disease belonging to the group of melanoma—threatening formations. The patient should be thoroughly examined by a dermatologist, as only a specialist can assess the condition of the birthmark.
The content of the article:
What is blue nevus
Symptoms of blue nevus
Diagnosis of blue nevus
Treatment of blue nevus
Blue nevus
Blue nevus is one of those pigment spots that need to be regularly examined and monitored for their development.
What is blue nevus
In medicine, a pigment spot on the patient’s skin is called “nevus”. Usually, such an education has a benign character and manifests itself due to the fact that melanoblasts begin to move in the child’s body even before his birth.
In general, birthmarks can be formed under the influence of several reasons at once. Most of the pigmented formations are congenital, blue nevus also belongs to them. The reasons for its occurrence can be:
any disorders in the genetics of the fetus;
pathologies in the hormonal system of a pregnant woman;
some external factors (for example, exposure to radiation or the influence of toxic substances on the body).
As a result, melanoblasts begin not only to move, but also to accumulate in a group order, which contributes to the appearance of nevus.
The blue nevus also has another name — “blue nevus Jadassona-Tiche”. This pigmented formation on the skin is small in size and has a blue or blue color. Most often, the blue nevus is single, but there may be whole clusters of it.
Blue nevus under the influence of various factors can begin its change towards the formation of a malignant tumor. As a result, melanoma develops.
Doctors usually do not seek to remove the blue nevus. The patient is obliged to undergo regular diagnostic tests, and only when the fact of the occurrence of melanoma is clarified, an operation to remove the formation is prescribed.
The appearance of blue nevus does not depend on the age of a person, but in most cases its appearance is observed in adolescents during their pubertal development. There are no unpleasant sensations at the same time, and, consequently, a person may not notice growth and other changes in education for a long time.
By the way, doctors note that blue nevus occurs much more often in women, men are less likely to suffer from this disease.
Symptoms of blue nevus
The blue nevus is placed under the skin and is determined by palpatory examination as a small nodule of cellular tissues with clear boundaries. Most often it is a rounded or oval thickening, sometimes taking a fusiform shape. The blue nevus has a size of 1-3 cm in diameter. Education can be easily recognized by its blue, dark blue or black-and-blue coloring. This color occurs due to the accumulation of a large amount of melanin in certain areas of the skin, in its deep layers.
The surface of the nevus may be uneven, sometimes hair growth is observed on it. The pigment spot is visually at the same level with the surface of the skin or slightly protrudes above it. When pressing on the formation, a slight nodular seal is felt.
Nevus is often localized on the face, forearms, hands or feet, buttocks and shins. There are no painful sensations, itching and burning are not pronounced. However, the formation can cause some discomfort if it is located in a place subject to constant friction.
Diagnosis of blue nevus
When diagnosing a blue nevus, there are no difficulties, its external manifestations help in this: the color of the nevus and the pronounced boundaries of the formation.
Dermatoscopy and syascopy allow conducting in-depth studies. The first procedure reveals the structure of education, its possible changes and depth. With the help of a siascopy, the direction in which melanin is located on the damaged area of the skin is determined. Ultrasound examination is also sometimes used, which studies the growth of the nevus and the risk of its transformation into a malignant neoplasm.
After the nevus has been removed, doctors conduct an additional histological examination. It is necessary to detect the concentration of melanin in the deep layers of the skin. Since sometimes melanin accumulates in cellular tissues, these cells have an increased size and are grouped, leaving bridges of connective tissues between the clusters.
Treatment of blue nevus
If the transformation of the nevus is not observed and is not predicted, then the removal of the formation can be avoided. However, at the same time, the patient is obliged to regularly contact specialists in order to constantly monitor the condition of the pigment spot. The patient himself should be interested in this and carefully monitor the nevus. At the slightest signs of the transformation of the birthmark, it is necessary to contact a dermatologist.
If the nevus is located on a part of the body that is subject to regular mechanical influences (injuries or friction), the doctor may conclude that removal is necessary. In some cases, such treatment is also prescribed in order to prevent the occurrence of melanoma.
There are several ways to remove the blue nevus: laser or radio wave effects, electrocoagulation and cryodestruction. The most delicate surgical work is carried out in the case of removal of the blue nevus from the face. The operation is required in cases of suspected transformation of the nevus into a malignant formation. The damaged area of the skin is deeply excised with the involvement of subcutaneous tissue. Excision is performed taking into account the necessary capture of healthy skin around the borders of the nevus in order to avoid the risk of further changes in the cellular tissue near the removed formation.
Thanks to a timely study, the doctor prescribes adequate treatment to the patient in the early stages. Therefore, a person who has a blue nevus on his body can live for a long time and remain almost completely healthy at the same time.
