Clark's Nevus - Information on Clark's Nevus

Clark's Nevus Information

Clark's Nevus is basically a skin disease typical to youth, but Clark's Nevus may occur to the people at any age.Clark's nevus, formerly called «dysplastic» nevus, is the most controversial and most difficult to diagnose of the melanocytic lesions. It is considerad as a precursor of malignant melanoma. With the aim of improving our knowledge on its clinical features and taking into consideration that we have a better equipment for its dianosis we carried out a prospective study in which the current clinical, surface microscopic and histological criteria were put into play. We collected 70 specimens from 48 patients.

We have provided you here all symptoms, causes and treatment methods of Clark's Nevus. The clinical criteria such as asymetry and unevenly distributed pigment were well correlated as focally irregular and faded pigment network under the sufface microscopy which histologically correspond to more or less elongated rete ridges containing nests of melanocytes. It is feasible to make the clinical diagnosis of early malignant melanoma developing within a Clark's nevus.

Symptoms of Clark's Nevus

Symptoms include:

1) Clark's Nevus generally begin to appear in adolescence, most often on the back, chest, abdomen, buttocks, and scalp.

2) Larger than ordinary nevi, averaging about 1 centimeter in size.

3) Colored in varying shades of tan and brown.

4) Sometimes they display an elevated darker portion in the center, with a flat, pale, fuzzy border, giving the appearance of a "fried egg."

5) When removed and examined microscopically, Clark's Nevus possess certain typical characteristics. The pigment cells show varying degrees of atypicality and usually are seen broadly throughout the skin.

Causes of Clark's Nevus

Following are the main causes of clarks nevus

1) Inheritance or family history

2) The cause of the Clark's Nevus is exposing the skin to sunlight.

Treatment of Clark's Nevus

Different Types of Treatment For Clark's Nevus are available, some are :

• Routinely evaluated by a dermatologist once or twice a year
• Use sunscreen daily on epxposed skin areas.
• The only safe way to remove an atypical mole is to have it cut out .
• People at higher risk for melanoma should minimize exposure to other risk factors associated with melanoma.
• wear a broad-brimmed hat when outdoors.