Symptoms & Signs
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 & Tests
Diagnosis is usually made based on the appearance of the skin area. A biopsy may be performed to look for cancerous changes.
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Birthmarks – pigmented : Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
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Birthmarks – pigmented : Symptoms & Signs, Diagnosis & Tests
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Birthmarks – pigmented : Treatment
Review Date : 10/28/2008
Reviewed By : Michael Lehrer, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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