MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Birthmarks

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Birthmarks - pigmented

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative names Definition Causes, incidence, and risk factors Symptoms Signs and tests	Treatment Support Groups Expectations (prognosis) Complications Calling your health care provider Prevention

Illustrations

Mongolian blue spots

Skin layers

Alternative names Return to top

Nevus sebaceous; Hairy nevus; Nevi; Mole; Cafe-au-lait spots; Congenital nevus

Definition Return to top

A birthmark is skin marking present at birth that ranges in color from brown or black to bluish or blue-gray. Birthmarks include cafe-au-lait spots, moles, and mongolian spots. (See also birthmarks - red.)

Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top

Cafe-au-lait spots are a light tan spot, the color of coffee with milk. They may be a normal type of birthmark. The presence of several cafe-au-lait spots larger than a quarter may occur in neurofibromatosis (a genetic disorder that causes abnormal cell growth of nerve tissues).

Moles are small clusters of pigmented skin cells. Nearly everyone has moles, which usually appear after birth.

Congenital nevi (moles present at birth) have an increased risk of becoming skin cancer (malignant melanoma). This is especially true if the nevus covers a large area of the body (larger than a fist). All congenital nevi should be examined by a health care provider and any change in the birthmark should be reported. Watch for changes in the size or color, or the appearance of sudden ulceration, bleeding, or itching in the birthmark.

A mongolian spot (also called a mongolian blue spot) is usually bluish or bruised-looking. It usually appears over the lower back or buttocks, sometimes in other areas including the trunk or arms. These are more commonly seen in darker-skinned populations and may persist for months or years but do not become cancer or develop other symptoms.

Symptoms Return to top

skin, abnormally dark or light
- brown, black, bluish, or blue-gray
skin lumps
skin lesion
discolorations, lumps, or lesions may
- be variable in size
- contain hair
- be smooth, flat, raised, or wrinkled

Signs and tests Return to top

Diagnosis is usually made on the basis of the appearance of the skin area. A biopsy may be performed on a removed mole to look for cancerous changes.

Treatment Return to top

Treatment varies depending on the type of birthmark and associated conditions. Usually no treatment is required for the birthmark itself.

Large or prominent nevi that affect the appearance and self-esteem may be covered with special cosmetics.

Moles may be removed surgically if they affect the appearance or if they have an increased cancer risk. Be sure to discuss your options with your doctor to decide how and when to remove any moles.

Support Groups Return to top

The Nevus Outreach (www.nevus.org) provides support for patients with large birthmarks.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

Congenital nevi have an increased cancer risk and should be examined.

Complications Return to top

skin cancer
psychological effects if the birthmark is prominent

Calling your health care provider Return to top

All birthmarks should be examined by a health care provider to determine the prognosis (probable outcome), course of action, and possible complications.

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if any change occurs in color, size, or texture of a nevus or other skin lesion.

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if there is development of pain, inflammation, ulceration, bleeding or itching of a congenital nevus or other skin lesion, or if questions or concerns develop.

Prevention Return to top

There is no known way to prevent birthmarks. It may be advisable for a person with birthmarks to use a good quality sunscreen when outdoors (to prevent complications).

Update Date: 4/17/2003

Updated by: Michael Lehrer, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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