What is halo nevus? It is a mole on the skin which looks pink in color. The skin which surrounds the mole appears in white. The main reason for the halo around the mole which appears is due to loss of color. Halo nevus is normally seen in people who are young around age 14 into young adulthood. The portion of the skin can flatten and disappear as time goes on. However, the area of the halo which looks white in color may remain even after the mole recedes due to pigmentation changes. This particular skin disorder isn't contagious or usually serious, but it can signify possibly other health issues.

Some reasons why halo nevus can arise include the following:

If you do a lot of sun bathing, the body may be fighting off the mole and rally the immune system. Wear a good sunscreen to

protect your skin. Some say that the mole may be perceived by the body as foreign so it tries to fight it off and this results in the halo from the white blood cells going to the area. The immune system can regard the mole as foreign and get the troops into action.

In some other cases the main cause for halo nevus is found out to be the presence of vitiligo. Vitiligo is something we've read about because of Michael Jackson making it into the popular media. It can create self-consciousness as we learn when we study his biography.

In other cases the underlying reason is found out to be malignant melanoma. This is usually not the case, so don't avoid the doctor because of fear. It needs to be examined.

It's important to have your skin checked yearly by a dermatologist and of course it's important to go when you see signs of a rash or skin eruption that is questionable. Keep in mind that the mole inside the halo isn't usually cancerous but nonetheless getting it checked out is important. Screening for skin cancer especially if you live in the south or are spend time in the sun is something to monitor regularly.