Can café-au-lait spots be cured completely?
Oct 08, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Wenmin
Introduction
Café-au-lait spots usually refer to coffee-colored birthmarks. In general, whether café-au-lait spots can be completely cured depends on the size of the lesions and the degree of pigmentation. Smaller spots with mild pigmentation can typically be cured; however, larger spots with severe pigmentation may not be curable. Patients are advised to maintain a healthy lifestyle during treatment and consume more fresh vegetables and fruits.
Café-au-lait spots, also known as coffee-with-milk spots, are a common type of pigmented skin lesion whose color resembles that of a mixture of coffee and milk. Approximately 10%–20% of healthy individuals have one or more café-au-lait spots at birth or shortly thereafter. These spots generally do not affect health but may impact cosmetic appearance. Whether café-au-lait spots can be completely cured depends on their size and degree of pigmentation. Smaller spots with mild pigmentation can usually be effectively treated and potentially cured; however, larger spots with deeper pigmentation may not be entirely curable.
Small café-au-lait spots with superficial pigmentation can often be significantly lightened or even eliminated through cosmetic treatments such as laser therapy, intense pulsed light (IPL), or chemical peels. However, for larger spots with deeper pigment deposition, although these treatments may help fade the discoloration, complete eradication is often difficult to achieve. Moreover, since the development of café-au-lait spots is associated with genetic and endocrine factors, they may reappear over time even after successful treatment due to these underlying influences.
Patients are advised to maintain a healthy lifestyle during treatment, including eating plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits—such as broccoli, carrots, oranges, and apples—which can help strengthen the body's immune system.
