Evaluation and care for birthmarks and other patches of pigmented skin.
Cafe-au-lait spots are flat, coffee-colored patches of skin present at birth or appearing in early childhood, caused by a localized cluster of pigment-producing cells. A single spot is common and usually of no concern, though multiple large spots can sometimes be associated with an underlying genetic condition.
A localized overgrowth of melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) in the skin.
These birthmarks cannot be prevented.
Typically no treatment is needed. Laser therapy can lighten the appearance for those who want it removed.
Myth: Cafe-au-lait spots always signal a serious disease. Fact: One or two spots are extremely common and almost always harmless; it's having six or more larger spots that prompts a broader medical evaluation.
If you notice several large cafe-au-lait spots (especially six or more), or if a spot changes over time.