title: Is high mole count a marker of more than melanoma risk? Eczema diagnosis is associated with melanocytic nevi in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of melanocytic nevi is the best single marker of increased melanoma risk. In a previous study, adults with severe eczema were reported to have significantly fewer nevi than adults without eczema.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a nested case-control design within a randomized, controlled interventional trial of additional sun protection vs standard care in 269 children, a history of eczema was reported by the parents of 44 (16%) of the children. More nevi were found in children with a parental report of previous eczema diagnosis than in children without reported eczema (median, 7.5 nevi vs 5.0 nevi; P =.01). Eczema diagnosis was most significantly associated with more melanocytic nevi in children with lightly pigmented skin (8.5 nevi vs 6.0 nevi; P <.001). In multivariate logistical regression analysis, including assessment of hair color, sun protection practices, and study assignment (intervention vs standard care), eczema status remained significantly predictive of nevi number in children (P <.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In contrast to a previous study that associated severe eczema with fewer nevi in adults, in the present study children with a reported history of eczema had more nevi than children without a reported history of eczema.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado, Denver, CO 80262, USA. robert.dellavale@uchsc.edu
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Dellavalle
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hester
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Stegner
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Deas
authors.forename: Theresa R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mokrohisky
authors.forename: Joseph G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.forename: Lori A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Crane
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003120:Colorado / Q000453:epidemiology; D004485:Eczema / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*