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Halo naevus

Author: Dr Amanda Oakley, Dermatologist, Hamilton, New Zealand,1997. Updated January 2018.


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What is a halo naevus?

A halo naevus (US spelling, nevus) is an otherwise normal mole with a white ring, or halo, around it. The central dark brown naevus fades from dark brown to light brown to pink, eventually disappearing completely. 

Halo naevus is also known as:

  • Halo melanocytic naevus
  • Halo mole
  • Regressing naevus
  • Sutton naevus
  • Leukoderma acquisitum centrifugum. 

Halo naevi

Who gets halo naevi?

Halo naevi (US plural, nevi) are not uncommon, with an estimated prevalence of 1% of the white-skinned population. They are usually seen in healthy children or young adults of either sex. They can occur at an older age too.

Halos can be seen as part of a more generalised pigment loss, vitiligo, and halo naevi may also be associated with another autoimmune disease.

They may rarely arise as a reaction to advanced melanoma and in patients with metastatic melanoma treated with targeted therapy or immune checkpoint inhibitors such as pembrolizumab or nivolumab.

What is the cause of halo naevi?

Why halo naevi develop is not fully understood. They are currently classified as autoimmune in origin.

The onset of a halo naevus may be triggered by sunburn or local trauma, which causes the mole to be recognised by the immune system as foreign, resulting in an attack by circulating antibodies and CD8+ T lymphocytes. The reaction also affects the normal skin around the mole, which also has pigment cells in it, causing depigmentation

Development of halo naevi has also been associated with psychosocial stress.

What are the clinical features of halo naevi?

A solitary halo naevus or multiple halo naevi are most often found on the trunk. They are less common on the head and are rare on the limbs. The affected naevi are dermal naevi that are congenital or have arisen during childhood. Halo naevi may follow the Koebner phenomenon, arising within a mole that has been injured in some way. 

The white halo is usually about 0.5–1.0 cm wide and is symmetrical (round or oval in shape). The halos develop at intervals round one or several moles, but not around all of them. 

There are four stages of a halo naevus. It may take several years to complete the cycle. Multiple halo naevi can be at different stages.

  • Stage 1: A rim of pale skin surrounds a mole
  • Stage 2: The mole may become pinker or less pigmented, and fades away
  • Stage 3: A circular or oval area of depigmentation persists
  • Stage 4: The affected skin gradually returns to its normal colour

Halo naevi in different stages

See more images of halo naevi.

How is a halo naevus diagnosed?

Halo naevus is a clinical diagnosis. Dermoscopy may be used to evaluate the structure and colour of the naevus.

A full skin examination should be performed (especially in adults), as rarely, halo naevi can be triggered by the presence of a melanoma elsewhere. 

Occasionally, if it has atypical features such as irregularity in structure or colour, excision of a solitary halo naevus is recommended to make sure it is benignHistology reveals a band-like lymphohistiocytic infiltrate in the dermis under the naevus.

Dermoscopy of halo naevi

What is the differential diagnosis for halo naevus?

The differential diagnosis of halo naevus includes:

  • Melanocytic naevus without halo
  • Recurrent naevus within a scar
  • Melanocytic naevus regressing through another pathway
    • Focal lichenoid reaction; a cluster of grey dots may be observed on dermoscopy.
    • Senescent involution; the naevus globally fades and shrinks without peripheral depigmentation
  • Melanoma with halo phenomenon or another form of regression
    • Depigmentation is focal and not round or oval in shape
    • Other features of melanoma are present, such as irregular structure and colour.
  • Solar lentigo or seborrhoeic keratosis undergoing regression.

Where there is doubt about the diagnosis, the whole naevus should be excised for histopathological examination. Partial biopsy could be misleading.

Concerning lesions with depigmentation — all excised for histopathology

What is the treatment of halo naevus?

Apart from an explanation, no treatment is normally required for a typical halo naevus. 

The white skin of a halo naevus will burn particularly easily in the sun because it is missing protective melanin pigment. Cover up or apply sunscreen during summer to prevent sunburn.   

Surgery is not usually necessary but may be recommended if there are atypical features such as irregularity in the structure of the naevus.

 

References

  • Weyant GW, Chung CG, Helm KF. Halo nevus: review of the literature and clinicopathologic findings. Int J Dermatol. 2015 Oct;54(10):e433-5. doi: 10.1111/ijd.12843. Epub 2015 Jul 3. Review. PubMed PMID: 26146814. PubMed.
  • Zhou H, Wu LC, Chen MK, Liao QM, Mao RX, Han JD. Factors Associated with Development of Vitiligo in Patients with Halo Nevus. Chin Med J (Engl). 2017 Nov 20;130(22):2703-2708. doi: 10.4103/0366-6999.218011. PubMed PMID: 29133759; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5695056. PubMed Central.

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