A close shave with a recurrent pigmented facial skin lesion

When shave biopsy is not the best option

A 76-year-old man presents with a new pigmented macule extending from a surgical scar on his chin, as shown in the top image.

Dermatoscopically (bottom image) the lesion is asymmetrical, and the border — not being uniformly abrupt — is not consistent with solar lentigo.

A perifollicular grey circle (H15) in such a facial lesion is a clue to malignancy.

Seven years earlier, the patient underwent a shave biopsy of a 7x7mm macule at the site, which was reported to be a “lentiginous dysplastic naevus”.