Cafe-au-lait spots that suddenly appear

Cafe-au-lait spots are flat, smooth patches of tan or brown pigment. They do not usually cause pain or surface scale. A clinician will distinguish them from freckles, post-inflammatory pigment, a mole, or another skin lesion by examining the border, colour, texture, and pattern. The presence of additional marks or other symptoms can change the recommended next step, so describe when you first noticed each one rather than trying to diagnose it yourself.

Take a well-lit photograph and note the date, body site, approximate size, symptoms, and whether nearby skin has tanned or been irritated. Check it periodically without picking or rubbing it. Avoid unprescribed lightening products. If a confirmed mark is cosmetically bothersome, a dermatologist can discuss options such as [Picosecond Laser Treatment](/treatments/laser-and-energy/picosecond-laser-treatment/) after considering skin type, location, and the risk of temporary or lasting colour change.

Arrange a routine appointment for persistent new marks, a cluster of spots, or uncertainty about whether the lesion is flat. Seek prompt review if pigment changes quickly, becomes uneven, raised, sore, itchy, crusted, or bleeds. A spreading rash with fever, facial swelling, breathing difficulty, or marked illness requires urgent medical attention rather than routine pigment monitoring.

Could this have been present but difficult to see? What features distinguish it from post-inflammatory pigment or a mole? Should other skin areas be examined? Which changes should I photograph and report promptly?