Lentigo maligna melanoma is caused by the overproduction of certain skin cells called melanocytes, which are the cells that produce skin pigment. This cell overgrowth usually forms on areas of skin that are exposed to sunlight, most commonly the nose and cheeks but also anywhere on the head and neck. The lesions caused by lentigo maligna melanoma look like large, flat, irregularly-shaped tan patches. Lentigo maligna melanoma begins in the epidermis, or topmost layer of skin, and usually spread across the skin's surface. If left untreated, lentigo maligna melanoma may spread deeper into the skin and may eventually spread to other parts of the body.
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