Thank you for the question. Cafe au lait macules are birth marks which present as hyperpigmented brownish patches. Cafe au lait is a french term for 'coffee-with-milk", which reflects the colour of these lesions, which can range from light to dark brown.
Cafe au lait macules are harmless and do not turn cancerous. However, topical treatments are generally not effective to ligthen or remove these lesions. Even with laser treatment, cafe au lait macules can be challenging to treat as multiple treatments are usually needed and there is a risk of recurrence after treatment.
