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• Conditions (26): Skin and Hair, Localized Acquired Hypertrichosis, Lichen Planus, and 23 others Skin and Hair, Localized Acquired Hypertrichosis, Lichen Planus, Skin Cancer, Melanoma, Lichen Sclerosus, dermatitis, Squamish Cell Skin Cancer, Eczema, Darier's Disease, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Inflammatory Linear Verrucous Epidermal Nevus, Epidermal Nevus, Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma, Keratosis Follicularis Squamosa, Hailey-Hailey disease, Elephantiasis, Ichthyosis Vulgaris, Exercise Urticaria, Mycosis Fungoides, Hemangioma, CREST Syndrome, Acne Rosacea, Balanitis Xerotica Obliterans, Diseases and Conditions, Genetic and Rare Conditions [hide]
• Groups (11): Beckers Nevus, Eczema, Melanoma, and 8 others Beckers Nevus, Eczema, Melanoma, Lichen Planus, Lichen Sclerosis, Darier's Disease, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Granuloma Annulare, Alopecia Areata, Sweet Syndrome, Acne Rosacea [hide]
• Symptoms (26): Granuloma Annulare, red skin rash, Alopecia Areata, and 23 others Granuloma Annulare, red skin rash, Alopecia Areata, Raynaud's Disease and Phenomenon, Angioedema, Scleroderma, Mole, Port-Wine Stain, Skin Findings, Fear of cancer of skin, Sclerodactyly, Hypopigmentation, Infected finger/toe/paronychia, Hyperpigmentation, Local swelling/papules/lump/mass, Symptom/complaint nails, Limited dermatologic function, Other changes in skin color, Baldness/losing hair, Generalized swelling/papules/lumps/masses, Other symptom/complaint hair & scalp, Generalized redness/erythema/rash, Fear of having other skin disease, Pain/tenderness of skin, Skin Absorption, Symptom/complaint of skin texture [hide]
• Treatments (26): Relaxation of scar or web contracture of skin, Laser Treatment of Pigmented Lesions, hydroquinone 40 MG/ML Topical Cream, and 23 others Relaxation of scar or web contracture of skin, Laser Treatment of Pigmented Lesions, hydroquinone 40 MG/ML Topical Cream, Dermabrasion, HYDROQUINONE 4 %, dioxybenzone 30 MG/ML / ETHYL DIHYDROXYPROPYL PABA 50 MG/ML / hydroquinone 40 MG/ML Topical Cream, Other OR therapeutic procedures on skin and breast, hydroquinone 40 MG/ML / padimate-O 30 MG/ML Topical Cream, HYDROQUINONE 2 %, Electrolysis and other epilation of skin, Hypersensitivity skin testing, fluocinolone 0.1 MG/ML / hydroquinone 40 MG/ML / Tretinoin 0.5 MG/ML Topical Cream, Electron Microscopy, Aspiration of skin and subcutaneous tissue, Other skin and breast procedures; non-OR, Delayed hypersensitivity skin test for mumps, Dermatologic Agents, hydroquinone 33 MG/ML Topical Solution, administration through skin implant, Tuberculin Test, Excision of Lesion of Skin, Other skin and breast procedures; OR, Administration, Cutaneous, Heterograft to skin, dioxybenzone 0.03 MG/MG / ETHYL DIHYDROXYPROPYL PABA 0.05 MG/MG / hydroquinone 0.04 MG/MG Topical Gel, Mumps skin test antigen [hide]

About Beckers Nevus

First documented in 1948 by U.S. dermatologist Samuel William Becker (1894-1964), Becker's nevus (also naevus; pl. nevi or naevi) is a skin disorder predominantly affecting males. A Becker nevus (Becker naevus) is a late-onset epidermal nevus or birthmark . It is also known as Becker melanosis. It is due to... more

First documented in 1948 by U.S. dermatologist Samuel William Becker (1894-1964), Becker's nevus (also naevus; pl. nevi or naevi) is a skin disorder predominantly affecting males. A Becker nevus (Becker naevus) is a late-onset epidermal nevus or birthmark . It is also known as Becker melanosis. It is due to an overgrowth of the epidermis (upper layers of the skin), pigment cells (melanocytes) and hair follicles. It develops during childhood or adolescence on the shoulders or upper trunk, occasionally elsewhere.

It is thought that it is due to a gene defect, which has not yet been identified. It may be triggered to develop by circulating androgens (male hormones such as testosterone), which is why it appears in males at puberty.

Features of Becker naevus

A Becker naevus is a large one-sided brown patch, sometimes over half the upper back or chest. After puberty it often becomes darker and quite hairy, a feature also called hypertrichosis. Occasionally acne may develop in the naevus.

Beckers nevus syndrome

Rarely, like other birthmarks, there may be some abnormality of underlying tissues derived from the same embryonic cell type, the ectoderm. This is known as the Becker nevus syndrome. These abnormalities may include:

* Smooth muscle hamartoma (overgrowth of smooth muscle tissue like a deep birthmark)
* Under-development of underlying structures such as breast, pectoral muscle, fat, limb, chest wall, spine
* Over-development of a tissue such as adrenal gland, limb, fingers or toes, scrotum.

Treatment of Beckers nevus

There is no effective treatment for the majority of Beckers nevi. However, the dark brown color is less obvious if the affected area is kept out of the sun so that it doesn't tan.

The excessive hairs can be reduced by repeated treatments with a hair removal laser or by electrolysis. The pigmentation can be reduced by a pigment laser, but this is not always effective and it may also be made worse by laser treatment.

Becker nevus-associated acne can be treated with standard acne therapies, including in severe cases, oral isotretinoin.

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