The blue nevus was first described in 1906. It was previously called "benign melanoma" because of its dissimilarity to other moles, but it was later discovered that it was just a nevus.
Blue nevus is characterized by the fact that the melanin pigment is located deep in the skin (in the dermis).
Oncologist of the 1st category of the HappyDerm medical center Lyudmila Artyushkevich notes that this pigment shines through the thickness of the dermis, creating such an optical effect that we see the blue color of the skin above the surface of the mole.
The size of a blue nevus does not exceed 1.5 cm. It may be slightly convex or not protrude above the skin surface at all. Its surface is smooth, and when looking at it, it seems that there is a foreign body under the skin.
Although blue nevus can appear at any age, it most often occurs in teenagers. It is more common in women than in men. It is located on the face, legs, hands, neck and buttocks.
Externally, a blue nevus can resemble melanoma, so it is important to consider the time of its existence. A blue nevus can remain unchanged for decades, while melanoma grows rapidly.
For accurate diagnosis, dermatoscopy and sometimes ultrasound examination are performed. In most cases, removal of the blue nevus is not required, but if it is often injured, surgical excision is recommended.
People who have a blue nevus are advised to see a dermato-oncologist to prevent the development of cancer.
