This mole is almost gone, leaving just the halo.

HALO NEVUS

The halo nevus is a mole surrounded by a white oval or circle. The white halo results from the immune system attacking and removing melanin from the mole and the surrounding skin.

• A completely depigmented circle of skin centered around a pigmented lesion in a child is typical. Multiple lesions are common. This author has had one patient with 35 halo nevi at one time!!
  
• It is common in children for the immune system to attack normal, benign nevi including a cm or so margin of normal skin. Over time, melanin is lost and a white halo surrounds the nevus. Ultimately over several years, the central mole may be completely eradicated.
• In older adults, a melanoma may develop a halo (halo melanoma) and thus great care should be take in this population. One key tipoff is the halo of a halo melanoma tends to be irregular compared to the smooth, round or oval halo of a halo nevus.
• Patients with vitiligo may have one or more halo nevi. In one study of 208 children with vitiligo, 55 (26%) had at least one halo nevus.
  
• Conversely, approximately 20% of patients with halo nevi also have vitiligo, either involving the nevus or at a distant site.
  
• Halo giant congenital nevi may occur.

Multiple halo nevi on the face.

Multiple Halo nevi on the back.

Two halo nevi, one almost gone.

NOT a halo nevus. This was a halo melanoma. Note the irregular shape, variation in color, and very dark areas.

RegionalDerm

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