Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAppearanceCausesHalo Nevus and Skin CancerDiagnosis and Treatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Appearance
Causes
Halo Nevus and Skin Cancer
Diagnosis and Treatment
Ahalo nevusis amoleinside a circle that lacks pigment. This “halo” has clear, obvious borders. With halo nevi, sometimes called Sutton nevi, there are nomelanocytes(cells that makemelanin) in the halo area. The average age of diagnosis is 15 years, and it’s rare in older people.
Halo nevi develop spontaneously, often on the torso; that was the case with 28 of 32 halo nevi in one case review.A person can have one or more of these typically benign (not cancerous) moles. Halo nevi don’t usually require treatment and, over time, often disappear on their own.
This article explains what halo nevi are and their causes. It explains the diagnosis and treatment of halo nevi, as well as briefly explainingvitiligo(a potentially related condition).
Halo nevus example.DermNet / CC BY-NC-ND
What Does a Halo Nevus Mole Look Like?
The halo nevus looks like a lighter, whitish ring that develops around a mole. In some cases, the mole may fade away but the circular white area with no pigment remains. Over time, the skin is likely to regain its skin tone. These moles affect about 1% of people with White skin.They also occur with other skin tone types.
Stages of a Halo Nevus
The development of a halo nevus typically follows specific stages. These stages include:
While the skin usually heals on its own, it can take up to 10 years for a halo nevi to disappear.
Health Divide: Skin Conditions and Darker Skin
Causes of Halo Nevus
There are a number of possible causes for a halo nevus to appear. They include:
What the causes have in common is that they involve an immune response that clears out the melanocytes from the halo area. Researchers continue to explore the relationship with autoimmune conditions; for example, due to a link between vitiligo andthyroid disease, some experts recommend blood tests for people with halo nevi to check for thyroid dysfunction.
Autoimmune Skin Disorders
In almost all cases, a halo nevi is a benign skin change and does not lead to skin cancer. Yet it is more concerning when it appears in adults rather than the more common presentation in kids and adolescents. A 2021 report estimates a 1% risk of a melanoma diagnosis within one year, when a halo nevi appears in adulthood.
In some cases, a halo nevus may be a sign of skin cancer at another site in the body. A dermatologist may recommend a full skin check when a halo nevus appears in an adult.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Halo Nevus
Skin checks are an important part of diagnosis, with thedermatoscopeplaying a key role. The dermatoscope is an instrument that lights up and magnifies skin changes like a halo nevus so that your healthcare provider (typically a dermatologist) can closely inspect the site.
The differential diagnosis can be challenging. A halo nevus that’s asymmetrical and/or has a border with an irregular shape represents more of a cancer risk.Microscopic examination can show differences in melanocyte sizes and shapes, and these can look like a melanoma cancer.
In most cases, however, a halo nevus does not require treatment.Applying sunscreen can help to prevent burns to any skin areas that have no pigment.
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Summary
A halo nevus is a mole with a well-defined circle around it. There’s no skin pigment in the circle, which typically will resolve on its own and fade away over time.
There are several possible causes of a halo nevus, which is closely related to vitiligo. The immune system appears to play a role in the body’s attack on melanocytes (melanin cells) around the mole. In some cases, halo nevi can develop in response to cancer treatment.
It’s even more rare that a halo nevus occurs due to skin cancer. Your healthcare provider may be able to examine the site or do a skin biopsy if needed. Or, they can refer you to a specialist for further care.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nedelcu R, Dobre A, Brinzea A, Hulea I, Andrei R, Zurac S,et al.Current Challenges in Deciphering Sutton Nevi-Literature Review and Personal Experience.J Pers Med. 2021 Sep 9;11(9):904. doi: 10.3390/jpm11090904.DermNet.Halo naevus.Babu A, Bhat MR, Dandeli S, Ali NM.Throwing Light onto the Core of a Halo Nevus: A New Finding.Indian J Dermatol.2016 Mar-Apr;61(2):238. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.177801.American Academy of Dermatology.Vitiligo: Diagnosis and Treatment.Lorentzen HF.Eruptive Halo Naevi: A Possible Indicator of Malignant Disease in a Case Series of Post-Adolescent Patients.Acta Derm Venereol. 2020 Aug 17;100(15):adv00228. doi: 10.2340/00015555-3568.Burzi L, Alessandrini AM, Quaglino P, Piraccini BM, Dika E, Ribero S.Cutaneous Events Associated with Immunotherapy of Melanoma: A Review.J Clin Med. 2021 Jul 8;10(14):3047. doi: 10.3390/jcm10143047.Haynes D, Strunck JL, Said J, Tam I, Varedi A, Topham CA,et al.Association between halo nevi and melanoma in adults: A multicenter retrospective case series.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021 Apr;84(4):1164-1166. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.08.056.Popecki P, Jurczyszyn K, Ziętek M, Kozakiewicz M.Texture Analysis in Diagnosing Skin Pigmented Lesions in Normal and Polarized Light-A Preliminary Report.J Clin Med. 2022 Apr 29;11(9):2505. doi: 10.3390/jcm11092505.Additional ReadingAouthmany M, Weinstein M, Zirwas MJ, et al; The natural history of halo nevi: a retrospective case series.J Am Acad Dermatol.2012 Oct;67(4):582-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2011.11.937. Epub 2012 Mar 2.Zabawski Jr E et al; Halo Nevus, Medscape, Apr 2014Zeff RA, Freitag A, Grin CM, Grant-Kels JM. The immune response in halo nevi.J Am Acad Dermatol. 1997 Oct. 37(4):620-4.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nedelcu R, Dobre A, Brinzea A, Hulea I, Andrei R, Zurac S,et al.Current Challenges in Deciphering Sutton Nevi-Literature Review and Personal Experience.J Pers Med. 2021 Sep 9;11(9):904. doi: 10.3390/jpm11090904.DermNet.Halo naevus.Babu A, Bhat MR, Dandeli S, Ali NM.Throwing Light onto the Core of a Halo Nevus: A New Finding.Indian J Dermatol.2016 Mar-Apr;61(2):238. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.177801.American Academy of Dermatology.Vitiligo: Diagnosis and Treatment.Lorentzen HF.Eruptive Halo Naevi: A Possible Indicator of Malignant Disease in a Case Series of Post-Adolescent Patients.Acta Derm Venereol. 2020 Aug 17;100(15):adv00228. doi: 10.2340/00015555-3568.Burzi L, Alessandrini AM, Quaglino P, Piraccini BM, Dika E, Ribero S.Cutaneous Events Associated with Immunotherapy of Melanoma: A Review.J Clin Med. 2021 Jul 8;10(14):3047. doi: 10.3390/jcm10143047.Haynes D, Strunck JL, Said J, Tam I, Varedi A, Topham CA,et al.Association between halo nevi and melanoma in adults: A multicenter retrospective case series.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021 Apr;84(4):1164-1166. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.08.056.Popecki P, Jurczyszyn K, Ziętek M, Kozakiewicz M.Texture Analysis in Diagnosing Skin Pigmented Lesions in Normal and Polarized Light-A Preliminary Report.J Clin Med. 2022 Apr 29;11(9):2505. doi: 10.3390/jcm11092505.Additional ReadingAouthmany M, Weinstein M, Zirwas MJ, et al; The natural history of halo nevi: a retrospective case series.J Am Acad Dermatol.2012 Oct;67(4):582-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2011.11.937. Epub 2012 Mar 2.Zabawski Jr E et al; Halo Nevus, Medscape, Apr 2014Zeff RA, Freitag A, Grin CM, Grant-Kels JM. The immune response in halo nevi.J Am Acad Dermatol. 1997 Oct. 37(4):620-4.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Nedelcu R, Dobre A, Brinzea A, Hulea I, Andrei R, Zurac S,et al.Current Challenges in Deciphering Sutton Nevi-Literature Review and Personal Experience.J Pers Med. 2021 Sep 9;11(9):904. doi: 10.3390/jpm11090904.DermNet.Halo naevus.Babu A, Bhat MR, Dandeli S, Ali NM.Throwing Light onto the Core of a Halo Nevus: A New Finding.Indian J Dermatol.2016 Mar-Apr;61(2):238. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.177801.American Academy of Dermatology.Vitiligo: Diagnosis and Treatment.Lorentzen HF.Eruptive Halo Naevi: A Possible Indicator of Malignant Disease in a Case Series of Post-Adolescent Patients.Acta Derm Venereol. 2020 Aug 17;100(15):adv00228. doi: 10.2340/00015555-3568.Burzi L, Alessandrini AM, Quaglino P, Piraccini BM, Dika E, Ribero S.Cutaneous Events Associated with Immunotherapy of Melanoma: A Review.J Clin Med. 2021 Jul 8;10(14):3047. doi: 10.3390/jcm10143047.Haynes D, Strunck JL, Said J, Tam I, Varedi A, Topham CA,et al.Association between halo nevi and melanoma in adults: A multicenter retrospective case series.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021 Apr;84(4):1164-1166. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.08.056.Popecki P, Jurczyszyn K, Ziętek M, Kozakiewicz M.Texture Analysis in Diagnosing Skin Pigmented Lesions in Normal and Polarized Light-A Preliminary Report.J Clin Med. 2022 Apr 29;11(9):2505. doi: 10.3390/jcm11092505.
Nedelcu R, Dobre A, Brinzea A, Hulea I, Andrei R, Zurac S,et al.Current Challenges in Deciphering Sutton Nevi-Literature Review and Personal Experience.J Pers Med. 2021 Sep 9;11(9):904. doi: 10.3390/jpm11090904.
DermNet.Halo naevus.
Babu A, Bhat MR, Dandeli S, Ali NM.Throwing Light onto the Core of a Halo Nevus: A New Finding.Indian J Dermatol.2016 Mar-Apr;61(2):238. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.177801.
American Academy of Dermatology.Vitiligo: Diagnosis and Treatment.
Lorentzen HF.Eruptive Halo Naevi: A Possible Indicator of Malignant Disease in a Case Series of Post-Adolescent Patients.Acta Derm Venereol. 2020 Aug 17;100(15):adv00228. doi: 10.2340/00015555-3568.
Burzi L, Alessandrini AM, Quaglino P, Piraccini BM, Dika E, Ribero S.Cutaneous Events Associated with Immunotherapy of Melanoma: A Review.J Clin Med. 2021 Jul 8;10(14):3047. doi: 10.3390/jcm10143047.
Haynes D, Strunck JL, Said J, Tam I, Varedi A, Topham CA,et al.Association between halo nevi and melanoma in adults: A multicenter retrospective case series.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021 Apr;84(4):1164-1166. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.08.056.
Popecki P, Jurczyszyn K, Ziętek M, Kozakiewicz M.Texture Analysis in Diagnosing Skin Pigmented Lesions in Normal and Polarized Light-A Preliminary Report.J Clin Med. 2022 Apr 29;11(9):2505. doi: 10.3390/jcm11092505.
Aouthmany M, Weinstein M, Zirwas MJ, et al; The natural history of halo nevi: a retrospective case series.J Am Acad Dermatol.2012 Oct;67(4):582-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2011.11.937. Epub 2012 Mar 2.Zabawski Jr E et al; Halo Nevus, Medscape, Apr 2014Zeff RA, Freitag A, Grin CM, Grant-Kels JM. The immune response in halo nevi.J Am Acad Dermatol. 1997 Oct. 37(4):620-4.
Aouthmany M, Weinstein M, Zirwas MJ, et al; The natural history of halo nevi: a retrospective case series.J Am Acad Dermatol.2012 Oct;67(4):582-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2011.11.937. Epub 2012 Mar 2.
Zabawski Jr E et al; Halo Nevus, Medscape, Apr 2014
Zeff RA, Freitag A, Grin CM, Grant-Kels JM. The immune response in halo nevi.J Am Acad Dermatol. 1997 Oct. 37(4):620-4.
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