Anyone Have Much Experience with Café Au Lait Spot?

NF can be diagnosed by the cafe' au lait spots you have to have 6 or more and bigger than a pincil eraser. I have Nf and it runs in my family my son has it also . if you need any more info on this condition you can look it up at nf.org this is the national web site and there are others just type nf or neurofibromatosis in to the search bar.

My son has one on the back of his knee. It's always stayed the same size and color and hasn't been of any concern to us or his doctor.

I've had one in the middle of my upper back for my entire life. I have a few moles and a distant relative with skin cancer, so I go get them checked at least once a year by my dermatologist. The cafe au lait spot has never been an issue. I've actually had other moles removed (for medical as well as cosmetic reasons), but the cafe au lait spot is still there, doc's never once mentioned removing it. I would tell your sis not to be concerned from a medical standpoint if her doc isn't. But if it's a large spot on the child's face, maybe she's also concerned about the appearance of it. I've had a couple removed from my face and neck just because I didn't like them...and my kids, as babies, would keep going for them. She should talk to the doc about having it removed if it's going to cause so much worry. She should be aware, that she'd probably be trading in the spot for a scar (face, neck and upper chest seem to scar a bit worse than the rest of the body), but since her child is still young, it will probably fade by the time he/she's an adult.

H.: I have a little sister with a condition called Neurofibromatosis - there are many different kinds of the disease, but one of the signs (and the first sign may parents noticed when she was a baby) was Cafe au Lait spots - I believe the key number is around 6 - i.e., if there are 6 or more spots, it could be in indicator. She should ask her doctor nevertheless - the short name for Neurofibromatosis is "NF". Let me know if you have any questions - any pediatrician should be familiar with it...

Dear H.,

My daughter has one of those spots on her back that is sort of big. She is now 24 and is okay. It is just a birth mark as they used to say. If the one on the face is very large and looks bad then later on ask your doctor if they is anyway a plastic surgeon could help. Be sure and keep sun screen on so that the melanin does not darken. It is a good idea to keep sunscreen on them anyway. My daughters spot did not darken but hers was on her back. Relax.

I guess I would google it, and also visit a pediatric dermatologist to find out your choices on potential removal of the spot. My daughters have a few of those on their legs, but we haven't looked into it, but I would certainly research it if the spots were on their face. Good luck!

Hi H., I have a cafe au lait spot on my leg... a rather large group of splotches...looks like an old mariners map of the seas, or just a series of spots thats "tanner" than the surrounding areas. Without any sun exposure though, there is not much difference in pigmentation. These are harmless, and actually, quite unique and cool.

Hi H. - one of my friends is a pediatric dermatologist and she told me that the spot on my son's chest was a cafe au lait spot. She said it was perfectly harmless and that if my son ever wanted to be a supermodel, he could have it lasered off when he was grown. She also suggested plenty of good sunscreen as it will tan just like the other skin.

Hope that helps to ease your worries!

My son has one on his leg and the dr did say not to worry, he would always have it. It has actually gotten lighter and blended in more with his skin color because his skin color has gotten darker like an olive complexion. My son is 16 months old and it has never bothered him or anything.