Birthmarks - pigmented

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Mongolian blue spots

Skin layers

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

Each type of birthmark has its own appearance:

• Cafe-au-lait spots are light tan, the color of coffee with milk.
• Moles are small clusters of colored skin cells.
• Mongolian spots (also called Mongolian blue spots) are usually bluish or bruised-looking. They usually appear over the lower back or buttocks, but can also appear in other areas, including the trunk or arms.

Other symptoms of birthmarks:

• Abnormally dark or light skin
• Contain hair
• Skin lesion
• Skin lumps
• Textured -- smooth, flat, raised, or wrinkled

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

Review Date: 10/08/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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