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Café au lait spot
Type of birthmark caused by a collection of melanocytes / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Café au lait spots, or café au lait macules, are flat, hyperpigmented birthmarks.[1] The name café au lait is French for "coffee with milk" and refers to their light-brown color. They are caused by a collection of pigment-producing melanocytes in the epidermis of the skin.[2] These spots are typically permanent and may grow or increase in number over time.[3]
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Café au lait spot | |
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A café au lait spot on a patient's left cheek | |
Specialty | Dermatology ![]() |
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Café au lait spots are often harmless but may be associated with syndromes such as neurofibromatosis type 1 and McCune–Albright syndrome.[3] Café au lait lesions with rough borders ("coast of Maine") may be seen in McCune–Albright syndrome.[4][5] In contrast, café au lait lesions of neurofibromatosis type 1 have smooth borders ("coast of California").[5]