Halo Nevus - Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

A halo nevus is nothing; it is a mole that is found pink or brown colours surrounded by an area of white or light skin. The halo is depigmented which means it has lost the normal skin pigment or color. The halo itself has sharply demarcated borders. Melanocytes or cells that make melanin are completely absent from the halo area. Halo nevi develop spontaneously, usually in adolescence, on the trunk, but sometimes on the palms and soles. The mole portion tends to flatten and may disappear completely. The white area may stay if the mole disappears or the affected areas may return to normal skin color. Halo nevi are not dangerous or contagious, but they are sometimes a sign that is not good for the skin. A person can have just one halo nevus or several halo nevi. It is relatively common, occurring particularly in older children and teenagers.

Causes of Halo Nevus

The trigger or cause of spontaneous pigment loss in a halo nevus is not known; however, pigment loss is the result of an immunologic process in which melanocytes are destroyed (pigment-producing cells). In essence, the body's immune cells attack other cells of the body.

Find common causes and risk factors of Halo Nevus :

• The cause of the Halo Nevus is unknown.
• Halo nevi are sometimes seen in people with vitiligo.
• Atypical moles are more common on people with halo nevi. Atypical moles are thought to have an increased risk of turning cancerous
• The disease has a family occurring tendency that is if parents or any family member is affected from the disease the chances are more for the development of the disease.
• Halo nevi may occur in patients with malignant melanoma .

Signs and Symptoms of Halo Nevus

Sign and symptoms may include the following :

• Functional blindness
• The patient has rapid eye movements.
• Person avoids light as he feels discomfort.

Treatment for Halo Nevus

Treatment may include :

• The skin and eyes must be protected from the sun . Sunglasses may be used.
• It may lighten the affected areas and improve its appearance, but generally not recommended because it doesn't remove the deeper pigment cells where malignant changes occur. \
• If you have a halo nevus and you have another mole that is changing, you need to be evaluated by your doctor immediately.