Cafe Au Lait Macules: Understanding This Skin Condition

Cafe au lait macules, also known as CALMs, are light brown spots that appear on children's skin from birth to early childhood. This condition is more common in African American children than in Caucasians, and its exact cause is still unknown. CALMs can appear as a single lesion or multiple ones. If multiple ones are present, they may indicate syndromes such as Westerhof syndrome, genetic skin disorders, or various skin diseases.

Although CALMs are generally harmless, they may be a cause of concern for patients if they are disfiguring or psychologically distressing. However, treatment is not always necessary, and even if it is received, CALMs may reappear. Laser therapy is one option for treatment, but topical bleaching agents are not effective in treating CALMs.

Reference:

Tannous Z, AO, & Avram M.M., & Tsao S, & Avram M.R.(Eds.), (2011). Color Atlas of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2e. McGraw Hill.