When to Remove Dysplastic Nevus?

Dysplastic nevi can be classified as mild, moderate or severe. Mild is closer to benign, while moderate to severe is closer to melanoma. When diagnosed, most dermatologists will recommend that severe dysplastic nevi be removed as a precaution.

When should dysplastic nevus be removed?

Most dermatologists usually recommend that all patients with these severely dysplastic moles have them removed with a margin (0.5 cm-about a quarter inch) of clinically normal skin. Also many dermatologists recommend removing "moderate dysplasia" moles, if the biopsy didn't get all of it.

Should mild dysplastic nevi be removed?

Should people have a doctor remove a dysplastic nevus or a common mole to prevent it from changing into melanoma? No. Normally, people do not need to have a dysplastic nevus or common mole removed. One reason is that very few dysplastic nevi or common moles turn into melanoma (1, 3).