melanocyte

Congenital nevus

What is a congenital nevus? A congenital nevus is a common non-cancerous tumour made up of melanocytes. A congenital nevus looks dark because it is made up of melanocytes that are producing a lot of melanin. Congenital nevi (nevi is the plural of nevus) are more common in people with light coloured skin. They can …
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Lentigo maligna

What is lentigo melanoma? Lentigo maligna is a type of early, non-invasive skin cancer made up of melanocytes. Another name for lentigo maligna is melanoma in situ. In lentigo maligna, the abnormal melanocytes are only found in the top layer of the skin called the epidermis. Without a microscope, lentigo maligna can look like a …
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Melanoma

What is melanoma? Melanoma is a type of cancer made of specialized cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes are common in the skin although they can also be found in other parts of the body. Melanocytes produce a chemical called melanin which gives the skin its colour. People with darker skin have more melanin compared to people …
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