My 7-year-old has always had a small brown birthmark on his lower back (cafe au lait spot, I believe). Recently we noticed that he has these brown areas on the back of his neck and behind his ears. At first I thought it was just dirt, but after trying several times to scrub the area, the spots remain. The areas do give the appearance of dirty skin - very irregular, not raised, discolored areas. Does anyone have any experience with birthmarks like these, if this is what it is, or have any other information before we run to the doctor's office. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
It could be a fungal infection, very common in kids. Take him to the doc and have it checked out. There is a topical cream used to treat it and it clears up in like 10 days.
Could they be beauty marks? My son seems to keep getting them and he's 10.
I don't know if it is the same thing, but it sure sounds like it! I have an irregularly shaped "birth-mark" on the inside of my left elbow. It didn't appear until I was 8, at which time my Dad tried several times to have me scrub it off. It is completely benign and doesn't bother me at all. I was self-conscious about it for a while, but when no one noticed it I became used to it. It sounds like the same thing that your sin has. I wouldn't worry about taking either of my sons to the Dr. if something similar were to appear on them. Hope this helps!
Hello K.,
My grandson has these cafe au' lait spots as well. Depending on the size of them and how many he has it could be Neurofibromatosis (NF1 or NF2). Ask the doctor about it. They will count them up and probably measure them. If needed, he will be sent to a Dermatologist, to have it verified. I am hoping that is NOT what it is as NF2 can get nasty.
Our grandson has the less severe version NF1. If they are not the right size, than it is just pigment marks.
Hope this helps you,
T.
The first responder was right on the money. If your son has 5 or more cafe au lait spots you should be more concerned because that is the number that is associated with a genetic disease. My daughter was born with one on her neck and has one on her arm now so I am keeping track of hers for this very reason.
I do think it is probably a birth mark. The next time you go to the doctor ask them about it.
Hey K.,
My daughter has them, and the marks themselves are harmless. We had to go to a geneticist for another family issue, and he asked specifically if any of us had cafe au lait marks, and where they were on our bodies, and then he looked at her marks carefully. I can't remember where they were supposed to be for you to have any concern, you could check on the net, or just ask your doctor the next time you go.
M.
Our son has Cafe Au Lait marks all over his body. He had several larger ones at birth and the number have increased over the last 4 years. At the age of 2, he was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis and the Cafe Au Lait marks are classic for this diagnosis. Definitely check with your pediatrician. Our son also sees a geneticist and both doctors keep track of his marks. It never hurts to have it checked, for our kids health is the most important. Good Luck!
