All the latte stains in babies it is very common. some appear light brown spots on the surface of your skin and they are also very typical at older ages. They usually appear anywhere on the body, being less frequent on the face.
These types of spots can appear at birth or created throughout its development. Many of these spots grow over the years and are already predicted to appear uneventfully and as a regular occurrence. They appear in 1 in 5 children.
What are coffee stains?
All the coffee stains They can appear individually or in groups. They generally appear in 25% of children and their quantity, shape and size can vary even more. They are generally harmless and its manifestation is associated with the call Neurofibromatosis type I, a genetic disease that affects the skin and nervous system.
They can appear in groups on the skin of babies and children, with a size of about 0,5 diameter cm. Over the years they increase in size, growing up to 1,5 cm, although there are cases where they expand many more centimeters.
What is the origin of these coffee stains?
Some babies are already born with these spots o originate throughout its development. With their appearance they will be a light brown tone and come to intensify their color over time. They are associated with grade I and II neurofibromatosis, but they are also associated with other genetic syndromes such as McCune-Albright Syndrome, Legius Syndrome or tuberous sclerosis. They can become congenital or develop over time.
Do these stains require special treatment?
Cafe-au-lait stains are common and they do not mean having a particular disease. A medical assessment must be made to diagnose their origin and that they are not associated with any disease when their quantity is usually isolated. Generally, when less than 3 spots appear, they are not usually associated with any type of disease.
If the doctor has made an assessment and sees it harmless, They will not require any kind of special treatment. It will only require normal hydration and sun protection to protect them.
You just have to take into account the fact of evaluating them over time, that they do not grow exorbitantly or that they appear in a greater number. In this way, if they do not modify their behavior, they cannot be associated with any genetic disease.
What are the sign of concern?
The appearance of these coffee stains require regular monitoring. Midwives usually report their presence when the baby is born. Care must be taken to be able to use it as a reference in the following pediatric reviews. When they change size or appear with unusual behavior is when you should notify them of a possible visit and treatment. Some of the suspicious signs for a possible intervention would be:
- When there is more than 6 coffee stains with milk and measure more than 0,5 cm before puberty.
- At the appearance of more than 6 café au lait stains and that measure more than 1,5 cm when they have reached puberty.
- If there family background with this type of spots and where they have been diagnosed with grade I neurofibromatosis.
- If they have developed this type of spots and have difficulties in their development, learning And when they start talking.
- When these spots are accompanied by lumps or bumps on the skin.
As a treatment for these coffee-with-milk stains, the laser for lightening its color, although it does not have a great guarantee, since with the passage of time they can darken again. Several sessions are used that last several minutes, where they will have to be spaced between 6 and 8 weeks.