Rash in Newborns

Flat, brown patches, called cafe-au-lait spots, are sometimes seen on a baby's skin (and also can develop later in life). They can vary in color from light brown in fair-skinned children to darker brown in dark-skinned children, and can vary in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters, even covering an entire arm or leg. They usually do not fade over time and often seem to get bigger as a child's skin grows.

Having one or two cafe-au-lait spots is common and usually not cause for concern. In rare cases, having more than five cafe-au-lait spots is associated with neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition that affects mainly the skin and the central nervous system (brain and spinal column). Your doctor will want to follow any cafe-au-lait spots closely and count them at each visit.