Blue Nevi

Definition

Blue nevi are solitary papules 2 mm to 1 cm in diameter or, less commonly, plaques, with a bluish color. It is a dark blue black nevus covered by smooth skin and with minimal or without melanin pigmentation. Amelanotic cellular blue nevus is a cellular blue nevus.

Blue nevi are histologically similar to the Mongolian patch, commonly seen over the sacrum of Asian or African-American children. Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by hemangiomas of the skin and gastrointestinal tract. Also called Jadassohn-Tièche nevus. The blue nevus, a benign, usually solitary lesion, represents a localized proliferation of dermal melanocytes. They vary greatly in appearance. They can be flat, elevated, smooth, rough, polyp-like, or sessile.

Causes of Blue Nevi

• Certain medications may lead to blue nevi.
• Even small amounts of UV radiation trigger process leading to skin wrinkles.
• Long-term repetitive and cumulative exposure to sunlight appears to be responsible for the vast majority of undesirable consequences of aging skin, including basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas.
• Blue nevi is most common in winter seasons.
• Melanoma is more likely to be caused by intense exposure to sunlight in early life.
• UVA penetrates more deeply and efficiently - However, UVA's intensity also tends to be less variable both during the day and throughout the year as it varies for UVB's.
• Bulging veins may lead to the production of Blue Nevi.
• Raynaud's Phenomenon - causes blueness usually of hands, fingers or feet.
• Moles are the main cause in the formation of blue nevi.
• UVB is also the main cause of blue nevi, which affects the outer skin layers. UVB is most intense at midday when sunlight is brightest.
• The occurance of varicose veins increases the chances in the formation of blue nevi.

Symptoms of Blue Nevi

Symptoms of blue nevi such as includes:-

• The cyanosis, dark skin, purple skin, or skin color changes are also seen in blue nevi.
• Skin colour get changed usually brown, black, bluish, or blue-gray.
• Skin lesion may occur in the affected area.
• Skin lumps may be seen during blue nevi.

Treatments of Blue Nevi

• Laser Surgery: Pulsed Q-switched laser surgery is a very effective treatment for nevi of Ota and Ito, and it works via selective photothermal and photomechanical destruction of dermal melanocytes and melanophages.
• Medical Care: Cosmetic camouflage makeup can minimize the disfiguring facial pigmentation resulting from Blue Nevi.
• Sequential dry ice epidermal peeling is also suitable for the treatment of blue nevi.
• Consultations: Ophthalmologist - For nevus of Ota, which may be associated with a higher incidence of ocular disease.
• Cryotherapy: Cryotherapy is also very effective in the eradication of damaged part of the skin.
• Microsurgery: Microsurgery, is beneficial in acute cases of blue nevi.
• Dermabrasion: It can be used as alone or combined with other modalities, such as carbon dioxide snow, autologous epithelial grafting.