White halo around the mole

A white halo around a mole often appears because the epidermal cells that produce the pigment melanin begin to function weaker. Such spots can have different shapes and sizes. Often these formations are simply a subspecies of ordinary nevi. They appear on the skin near moles and later disappear without having any effect on them.

Causes a white halo around the mole

There are two main reasons for the appearance of a white halo around a mole:

• Safe, in which the halo around the mole does not indicate malignant degeneration, but on the contrary is a symptom of the pigment spot beginning to disappear from the skin. Over time, it begins to dissolve, as a result of which this light area appears.
• Dangerous, in which a change in moles may indicate that the formation is transforming into a malignant tumor. In some cases, a change in the color of a mole, as well as the appearance of a spot around it, are a sign that basal cell skin cancer or melanoma is beginning to develop at the site of the nevus.

Pathogenesis

The process of depigmentation is associated with the fact that the level of melanin in melanocytes decreases, as a result of which they disappear from the epidermis.

This genetic defect can also be associated with pathology - in some patients it can be combined with vitiligo.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ]

Symptoms a white halo around the mole

A white halo around a mole is sometimes also called a halo or nevus of Setton. When the process of development of this formation begins, a pigmented mole appears on the skin, and later a halo of light, depigmented skin begins to form around it. Sometimes, before depigmentation, the skin may slightly redden. The mole itself looks like a nodule that rises slightly above the skin (can be brown, light brown or reddish in color). This mole has a clearly defined size and shape. The white spot is often 2-3 times larger than the nevus, which is located in its very center.

Most often, halo nevi appear on the arms or torso, and occasionally they can appear on the face. Usually, such formations are distinguished by their multiplicity – they are very rarely single.

This formation is considered benign and does not threaten to degenerate into melanoma. But sometimes the appearance of such a nevus can be a symptom of the development of malignant tumors in internal organs, neurofibromatosis.

The most important symptom of halo nevus is that it develops in stages - first a pigmented neoplasm appears, and then after some time a white spot of discolored skin appears around the new mole. After this, over the course of several years, a decrease in the pigmented part of the mole is observed, and then a gradual return of the depigmented area of the skin to its normal color begins.

A white rim around a mole usually appears under the influence of sunlight – the mole gets sunburned. Over the years, such a halo nevus can become completely discolored. It should be taken into account that the appearance of several such formations at once can be the first symptom of the development of vitiligo.

Complications and consequences

Halonevi themselves are considered benign, but at the same time, the risk that they can transform into malignant tumors - melanomas - cannot be ruled out. If a mole has begun to degenerate into melanoma, treatment must be started as soon as possible, otherwise serious consequences may arise, including fatal ones, since melanoma in the late stages of development has an unfavorable outcome.

[ 3 ], [ 4 ]

Diagnostics a white halo around the mole

Since halo nevi have fairly typical clinical signs and develop in stages, they are fairly easy to diagnose. It is much more difficult to identify formations that are the initial signs of vitiligo - this requires additional research.

[ 5 ], [ 6 ]

Tests

To diagnose the nature of the formation, the patient may be referred for examination to a dermato-oncologist - this is necessary to find out whether the halo nevus is a hidden melanoma, because at the early stages of development they have similar symptoms. In such cases, a tissue biopsy is performed, which is then sent for histological analysis.

[ 7 ]

Instrumental diagnostics

Among the methods of instrumental diagnostics, two main ones are distinguished:

• Dermatoscopy, which is used to visually examine a nevus under high magnification. This method allows for a thorough examination of the structure of the formation, revealing all the nuances and details;

• Siascopy is a non-invasive method that evaluates the external structure of a mole and the distribution of dermal melanin. The level of collagen and hemoglobin is also determined.

Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnostics of halo nevus with neurofibroma, warts, vitiligo, blue and epithelioid nevus, as well as melanoma in the early stages is carried out.

Treatment a white halo around the mole

A mole with a white halo should be removed only if there is a suspicion that the formation is malignant. Symptoms may include changes in the color of the nevus, its size, and damage to the integrity of its surface. Pain or discomfort in the area of the mole will also be a sign of complications. If, in combination with these symptoms, it is not possible to clearly differentiate the mole from melanoma, it should be removed along with the depigmented halo around it.

It should also be noted that for each individual case it is necessary to select an individual type of treatment. When it is necessary to remove a mole from a traumatic area, laser surgery or nevus freezing can be used. Also, sometimes they resort to the help of an electrosurgical method - damaged tissues are separated and excised by means of high-frequency current (the oscillation strength can reach 700 thousand units/sec). This method is usually used to remove nevi from sensitive areas of the skin.

Medicines

In some cases, a mole with a white rim is a sign of vitiligo, and truly effective treatment regimens and medications have not yet been created to completely eliminate this pigment defect. The therapy process can be quite lengthy, so the patient will need patience.

During treatment, the endocrine system and liver are normalized, PUVA therapy methods are used: taking photosensitizers, as well as ultraviolet irradiation sessions. In addition, the doctor can prescribe courses of corticosteroid hormones, drugs containing copper and ascorbic acid, as well as the use of immunomodulators. Since the causative agents of vitiligo have not yet been identified, all these medications can only stop the progression of the symptoms of the disease, but they are not able to completely eliminate them.

Folk remedies

There are several folk methods of treating vitiligo.

Treatment with wine. You need to take 0.5 cups of grated betony grass, as well as any wine (2 l). Boil the grass in wine over low heat for about 15-20 minutes. The resulting tincture should be consumed twice a day - before meals and before bed (50 g).

Treatment using red pepper infusion. Take slightly dried pods of hot red pepper and put them in a jar (1 l), pour vodka over it, close the lid and wrap it with a rag or towel. After that, the jar should be placed in a dry place, protected from the sun, for 25 days. The infusion should be stirred every day. Then, when the period is over, take the pepper out of the jar and wipe the vitiligo spots with the resulting infusion solution for 5-10 minutes three times a day. Then, the areas of skin smeared with the solution should be exposed to sunlight. The treatment should be carried out continuously until the infusion is completely finished.

[ 8 ], [ 9 ]

Herbal treatment

Vitiligo can also be treated with medicinal herbs.

A herbal collection made by mixing nettle and sage leaves, St. John's wort (20 g each), succession and calendula flowers (15 g each), and oregano (10 g). Take 2 tbsp of the resulting mixture and pour 0.5 l of boiling water over them. Infuse the mixture for 2 hours, then strain. Use half a glass three times a day before meals. The treatment course lasts 3 months, and can be repeated after a 2-month break.

To use duckweed, wash it and grind it with flower honey in a 1:1 ratio. Take the resulting mixture 1 teaspoon three times a day.

Parsnip flower ointment. Grind the herb until smooth, then take 2 tablespoons and mix them with 100 g of melted lard. Keep the resulting mixture on low heat for 2-3 hours, then cool and apply it to the spots twice a day.

Application of geranium - dried and chopped roots of red geranium (50 g) should be poured with boiling water (1 l) and left to infuse for 4 hours. Strain the resulting tincture and pour into a full bath of water. Every day before bed for 15-20 days. take such a warm bath.

Prevention

There are no special preventive methods to prevent the development of halo nevi, since the cause of their occurrence is still not fully known.

If you have such formations, you should hide them from sunlight, as they can negatively affect the mole itself, as well as the depigmented area around it - you can get a sunburn. You should also avoid stressful conditions, because emotional shocks can contribute to the development of autoimmune reactions.

[ 10 ], [ 11 ], [ 12 ]

Forecast

The white halo around the mole usually disappears on its own, although in some cases it may take even several years. Halonevi do not transform into basalioma of the skin or melanoma, so the prognosis is often favorable. But it is important to understand that their symptoms are similar to the development of some types of melanoma. Therefore, if such a formation appears, you should undergo an examination by a specialist to exclude the possibility of a malignant tumor.