Q. I am 24 yrs. old. During my teen years I had numerous moles which have since disappeared but I am left with many white spots that are very unattractive and I want to know what I can permanently do to correct this. Please help.

A.Disappearing nevi are called halo nevi. Many times moles will "disappear" without cause.  The white or hypopigmented areas many times will repigment with time.

Outside of cosmetic make-up, there really aren't medical treatments to repigment the skin.  Make sure you use sun protection as these areas are more susceptible to sunburn.  I might add that you should see a dermatologist to ensure that none of your moles are worrisome.



Q.I am 21 and about 6-12 months ago a small mole appeared on the underside of my upper arm. It looked normal with a light pink color and was very small, but long. A few days ago it turned completly black and seems to have shrunk. It is a very tiny tiny mole. Should I make an appointment with a dermatologist?

A.Anything that turns "black" should be checked by a physician! Don't take chances with your health.



Q.My husband (36) just had a mole removed from his back. The lab report came back as severely precancerous. He now has to go have more tissue from around the mole removed and tested. Does this mean he has skin cancer? What are they looking for? Thanks for any info.

A.The term "precancerous" is a very nebulous designation. This term is not common terminology describing moles.  Calling a mole precancerous does not designate a specific diagnosis. The accepted terminology used in describing irregular moles is called "dysplastic." This term is then modified by adjectives such as mild, moderate or severe. I think that skin biopsies should be interpreted by skin specialists. This avoids confusion and unnecessary anxiety.