Editing Melanocytic nevus (section)

===Differentiation from melanoma===
It often requires a dermatologist to fully evaluate moles. For instance, a small blue or bluish-black spot, often called a blue nevus, is usually benign but often mistaken for [[melanoma]].<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Granter SR, McKee PH, Calonje E, Mihm MC, Busam K |title=Melanoma associated with blue nevus and melanoma mimicking cellular blue nevus: a clinicopathologic study of 10 cases on the spectrum of so-called 'malignant blue nevus'|journal=Am. J. Surg. Pathol.|volume=25|issue=3|pages= 316–323|date=March 2001|pmid=11224601|doi=10.1097/00000478-200103000-00005|s2cid=41306625}}</ref> Conversely, a junctional nevus, which develops at the junction of the dermis and epidermis, is potentially cancerous.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Hall J, Perry VE |title=Tinea nigra palmaris: differentiation from malignant melanoma or junctional nevi|journal=Cutis| volume=62|issue=1|pages=45–46|year=1998|pmid=9675534}}</ref>

A basic reference chart used for consumers to spot suspicious moles is found in the mnemonic A-B-C-D, used by institutions such as the American Academy of Dermatology and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The letters stand for asymmetry, border, color, and diameter.<ref name="aad.org" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/melanoma/page8|title=What You Need To Know About Melanoma - Signs and Symptoms|date=January 1980|publisher=[[National Cancer Institute]]|access-date=2008-05-18}}</ref> Sometimes, the letter E (for elevation or evolving) is added. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, if a mole starts changing in size, color, shape or, especially, if the border of a mole develops ragged edges or becomes larger than a pencil eraser, it would be an appropriate time to consult with a physician. Other warning signs include a mole, even if smaller than a pencil eraser, that is different from the others and begins to crust over, bleed, itch, or become [[Inflammation|inflamed]]. The changes may indicate developing [[melanoma]]s. The matter can become clinically complicated because mole removal depends on which types of cancer, if any, come into suspicion.

A recent and novel method of melanoma detection is the "ugly duckling sign"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skincancer.org/the-ugly-duckling-sign.html|title=The Ugly Duckling Sign: An Early Melanoma Recognition Tool|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20090130144704/http://www.skincancer.org/the-ugly-duckling-sign.html|archive-date=2009-01-30}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite journal |vauthors=Mascaro JM, Mascaro JM |title=The dermatologist's position concerning nevi: a vision ranging from 'the ugly duckling' to 'little red riding hood' |journal=Archives of Dermatology |volume=134 |issue=11 |pages=1484–1485 |date=November 1998 |pmid=9828892 |url=http://archderm.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?volume=134&page=1484 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715101602/http://archderm.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?volume=134&page=1484 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-07-15 |doi=10.1001/archderm.134.11.1484 }}</ref> It is simple, easy to teach, and highly effective in detecting melanoma. Simply, correlation of common characteristics of a person's skin lesion is made. Lesions which greatly deviate from the common characteristics are labeled as an "ugly duckling", and further professional exam is required.{{Citation needed|date=June 2016}} The "little red riding hood sign",<ref name="ReferenceA"/> suggests that individuals with fair skin and light colored hair might have difficult-to-diagnose melanomas.{{Citation needed|date=June 2016}} Extra care and caution should be rendered when examining such individuals as they might have multiple melanomas and severely dysplastic nevi. A dermatoscope must be used to detect "ugly ducklings", as many melanomas in these individuals resemble non-melanomas or are considered to be "wolves in sheep clothing".<ref name="dermnetnz.org">{{cite web|url=http://dermnetnz.org/doctors/dermoscopy-course/introduction.html|title=Dermoscopy. Introduction to dermoscopy. DermNet NZ|date=3 March 2024 }}</ref> These fair skinned individuals often have lightly pigmented or amelanotic melanomas which will not present easy-to-observe color changes and variation in colors. The borders of these amelanotic melanomas are often indistinct, making visual identification without a [[dermatoscope]] very difficult.

People with a personal or family history of skin cancer or of [[dysplastic nevus syndrome]] (multiple atypical moles) should see a dermatologist at least once a year to be sure they are not developing melanoma.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dermcarestl.com/medical-services/skin-cancer/dysplastic-nevus-atypical-mole.html|title=Atypical Mole/Dyplastic Nevus - Skin Cancers - Medical Dermatology|website=DERMCARE|language=en|access-date=2018-08-13|archive-date=23 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423104349/https://www.dermcarestl.com/medical-services/skin-cancer/dysplastic-nevus-atypical-mole.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>