Should I worry about café-au-lait spots?

Café au lait spots are usually harmless and don’t cause any uncomfortable symptoms or complications. But you shouldn’t ignore these spots, especially if you have more than a handful on your body. This could indicate an underlying genetic disorder.

What diseases cause café-au-lait spots?

Tuberous sclerosis: Café au lait spots are present along with Ash leaf spots, facial angiofibromas, hemangiomas, cardiac rhabdomyomas, and shagreen patches. Silver-Russell syndrome. Ataxia telangiectasia. Bloom syndrome.

Can café-au-lait spots appear in adults?

The severity ranges from very mild cases in which the only signs of the condition in adulthood may be multiple café-au-lait spots and a few neurofibromas, to more severe cases in which more serious complications develop.

Can you have a lot of café-au-lait spots without neurofibromatosis?

Multiple café-au-lait spots have been observed in successive generations of several families without any other manifestations of neurofibromatosis (NF) or any other systemic disorder. The café-au-lait spots in these families segregate as an autosomal dominant trait.

How many café-au-lait spots are concerning?

Café-au-lait (CAL) spots are benign (noncancerous), harmless and will not affect your child’s body. If your child has more than six CAL spots, visit your healthcare provider because multiple CAL spots can be a sign of an underlying genetic condition.

What causes multiple café-au-lait spots?

Multiple (more than six) café-au-lait spots can be a sign of an underlying genetic condition including: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). McCune-Albright syndrome. Noonan syndrome.

Is one café-au-lait spots normal?

The spots are usually present at birth but may develop later in life. Café au lait spots are harmless and normal, with some people having anywhere from one to three spots. But sometimes, these spots can indicate an underlying genetic problem.

What are Cafe au lait spots and how to treat them?

Cafe au lait spots are a hyper pigmentary skin condition that should not be ignored, be it in children or adults. Regular check-ups will help you seek appropriate treatment as and when necessary.

What causes café-au-lait spots on the skin?

In those with darker skin, they can be the color of a rich, full-bodied, black coffee. Some symptoms of neurofibromatosis that causes café-au-lait spots are freckles in the armpits or groin, bumps on the iris of the eye, and bumps under the skin. Try our FREE dermatology search engine and get peace of mind within a second What can I do?

What are café-au-lait spots?

Café-au-lait (CAL) spots are pigmented birthmarks that appear as patches on your skin with a light to dark brown color that differs from the tone of the rest of your skin. The term “café-au-lait” means “coffee with milk” in French, which refers to the color of the birthmark, comparing it to the creamy tone of a cup of coffee mixed with milk.

What causes café au lait macules?

Production of excess melanin in the affected area results in the formation of these spots. Often café au lait macules are associated with genetic conditions and syndromes that cause the formation of benign tumours on the nerves across the body.