What You Need to Know about Dysplastic Nevi

Dysplastic nevi are atypical moles, which can appear anywhere on the body but one peculiarity of these moles is that men usually get them on their trunks and women usually get them on their calves. They are usually larger than common moles and are more likely to have an irregular shape. Often there are also color variations in dysplastic nevi and they can be pink, dark brown or anything in between.
Causes of Dysplastic Nevi
There appears to be a hereditary link with dysplastic nevi, so if one of your parents had this condition, you are more likely to have it too, although it is by no means inevitable, happening in about ten to fifteen per cent of cases. If there is an immune deficiency due to illness, medication or some other reason, you are also more at risk of developing dysplastic nevi. Getting sunburned also increases your risk of later developing dysplastic nevi. Also, the older you get, the more likely you are to develop these moles.
The Link with Cancer
Medical professionals used to believe that dysplastic nevi have a higher tendency to become cancerous that regular moles do. However, this is not a common perception amongst modern dermatologists. The distinction is, though, if you have many dysplastic nevi on your body, you seem to be at a higher risk of developing melanomas, so you still need to watch out for these types of irregular moles.
You should have your moles checked regularly by a nurse or a doctor. This is particularly important if they seem to grow in size or change color or shape.
Sensible Precautions if you Have Dysplastic Nevi
You should check out your own moles at least monthly. In addition, if you have had dysplastic nevi in the past, you should get an annual check up of your moles carried out by a qualified dermatologist.
Signs and Symptoms of Melanoma

The moles may be asymmetrical with irregular borders. They are probably muli-colored, and if your moles are larger than 6mm in diameter they are more likely to be cancerous. Any changes in the moles you have on your body should be viewed as a cause for concern and should be checked out by a doctor. They may then perform a biopsy to determine if the dysplastic nevi is malignant.

Treatment of Dysplastic Nevi

Regular examinations to prevent the unchecked development of dysplastic nevi moles are important, as is limiting your exposure to the sun. If you are going into the sun, you should use sun screen with an SPF or 30 or greater, in order to avoid problems with dysplastic nevi becoming cancerous. Of course, this is also good advice for anyone.
Usually, dysplastic nevi are treated by surgical removal of the abnormal mole(s) after local anesthesia is injected into the surrounding skin. The abnormal skin cells can also be frozen with liquid nitrogen or one may undergo radiotherapy to deal with the moles.

So, you can see that dysplastic nevi are something which can cause health issues, but which you can easily spot for yourself. Early diagnosis is important in this condition and if it is caught early, there are many treatment options of dysplastic nevi.