Unna
Nevus.
Unna Nevus is a type of dermal nevus found below the neck.
Unna Nevus
Unna nevus is a harmless type of mole found on the trunk.
Unna
What is a Unna Mole?
The terminology can be confusing! The Unna nevus is a type of dermal nevus that occurs below the neck, whereas the Miescher nevus occurs on the face.
To understand the Unna nevus, keep in mind that a mole (nevus or naevus) is a benign ‘nest’ of pigmented skin cells called melanocytes. The ‘nests’ of an unna nevus are found down in the dermal layer of skin. As a result, the mole is ‘deep’ and rises above the uppermost layer of skin.
Who gets them?
What are the clinical features?
The unna nevus is a soft skin-colour, pink or brown protruding lump that can resemble a raspberry. The mole can be clearly felt as it protrudes from the surface of the skin.
Take a close look at the surface, and you may notice a cobblestone appearance, most easily appreciated with dermoscopy. A hair is often seen protruding from the mole.
Gallery of Unna Nevus
Please click on the images for details.
What is the significance?
Not much! However, they can be unsightly. The protruding area can be removed by shave excision.
The natural course is for the mole to shrink in size eventually. Some end up as skin tags, and they can even drop off altogether.
Unna Nevus and nodular melanoma may have similarities in rare cases.
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