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Tristan de Chalain Limited
Private Service, Plastic Surgery
Naevi
The common name for a naevus is a 'mole' which usually signifies the dark brown slightly raised compound naevus. The fleshy raised pigmented lesions are intra-dermal naevi. Blue naevi have a dark bluish-black appearance. Junctional naevi are usually 2-3 mm diameter and often very dark brown to black and sometimes look like melanomas.
The reason for getting dark moles and spots checked is that 50% of melanomas (pigmented skin cancers) may arise in or from pre-existing pigmented moles. Any change in a dark mole such as blackness, irregular edge, bleeding or ulceration should be reported to your doctor promptly. Excision of any 'suspicious' darkly pigmented lesions is generally recommended.