WHAT IS A BECKER'S NEVER?Becker's nevus is a light brown, benign mole, often with increased hair growth. Becker's nevus is located on one side of the body, usually on the shoulder and/or upper arm, and is primarily found in young men. It is common, occurring in approximately 0.5% of young men. It is approximately 2-6 times more common in men than in women. In women, it may be less visible because the color is lighter and there is less hair or thinner hair. The mole is named after the American dermatologist Samuel William Becker, who first described it in 1949.
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| Becker's nevus |
Becker's nevus |
Becker's nevus |
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| Becker's nevus |
Becker's nevus |
Becker's nevus |
WHAT DOES A BECKER'S NEVER LOOK LIKE?Becker's nevus usually doesn't become visible until around age 8 and increases in size during puberty. It begins as a light brown spot, later thickening and developing excessive hair growth. Sometimes the spot suddenly becomes clearly visible after sun exposure, as the brown color increases with sunlight. A Becker's nevus can also be present from birth. Its size varies greatly, from a few centimeters to as large as half the upper body. There are also bumpy versions of Becker's nevus, which are caused by an increase in muscle fibers in the skin.WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF BECKER'S NEVER?The cause is unknown. The spot is predisposed from birth, but may not yet be visible. The cells that form the spot are hypersensitive to male hormones. This explains why the spot often only becomes visible during puberty and why it is more common in men. Acne can develop in a Becker's nevus, which is also attributed to hypersensitivity to male hormones.BECKER'S NEVUS SYNDROMEThere is a rare variant of Becker's nevus in which the breast on the affected side does not develop properly. This is called Becker's nevus syndrome. If the mole spreads across the breast, the breast can develop abnormally. The nipple or the entire breast then becomes smaller than on the other side. This can cause a significant difference in breast size, especially in women, but it also occurs in men. Becker's nevus syndrome, which is fortunately very rare, can also cause other abnormalities such as skeletal abnormalities (chicken breast, vertebral abnormalities), jaw or dental abnormalities (asymmetric facial features, missing teeth), extra nipples, and abnormalities of the labia or scrotum.HOW IS THE DIAGNOSIS MADE?The diagnosis is based on the clinical picture, i.e., its appearance. There are a few similar symptoms, such as café-au-lait spots and congenital moles . Sometimes a biopsy is necessary .HOW IS A BECKER'S NEVER TREATED?A Becker's nevus is a benign mole. It cannot develop into malignant tumors. Therefore, treatment is not necessary, nor is regular monitoring.
However, sometimes the question arises whether the spot can be removed for cosmetic reasons. Some patients are bothered by the dark color or the excessive hair growth. However, it's not easy to do anything about it.
Surgical removal is not possible; the mole is far too large for that, and this would leave unsightly scars.
The hairs can be shaved off or bleached with hydrogen peroxide to make them less visible. They can also be removed through laser hair removal or hair removal with IPL (intense pulsed light). Chemical hair removal using chemicals that dissolve the hairs is also possible. However, these products can be quite irritating to the skin.
The light brown spot can be treated with pigment lasers. These lasers are available in upscale beauty clinics, dermatology practices, and hospitals. A Becker's nevus can be lightened with lasers such as the Erbium:YAG laser, the Q-switched ruby laser (694 nm), the Alexandrite laser (755 nm), and the ablative fractional laser. However, lightening a Becker's nevus is not easy. The results of laser treatment are often disappointing.
Protecting the area from the sun with a good sunscreen also helps. This prevents the area from darkening and becoming more visible.
Disturbing pigment spots in visible areas can also be camouflaged with a special camouflage cream that matches the skin color.
In the case of a potential difference in breast size, medications that counteract the effects of male hormones, such as spironolactone or Androcur, can be prescribed. These medications do have side effects. Once the breasts are fully grown, the size difference can be corrected by a plastic surgeon with a silicone implant.WHAT CAN I STILL DO ABOUT IT?- Protect the area from the sun with a good sunscreen.
- Shave the hair.WHAT ARE THE OUTLOOK?As mentioned, a Becker's nevus usually only becomes clearly visible during puberty, as the color darkens and more hairs appear. From that point on, the spot remains unchanged and no longer grows in size. Sometimes, the spot can lighten slightly after a few years. The mole is benign; screening for skin cancer is not necessary. The prognosis is good. |
