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Cafe Au Lait Birthmark
Hi there, I have a few questions regarding the birthmark that I have.
Please bear with me, this is a lengthy email and I have mulitple questions.
First off I would like to describe this birthmark.
- It is large in shape, covering my right chest, to my right shoulder then half of my right bicep to the elbow, then there are some spots showing on my right wrist.
It is darker in color near the shoulder/bicep area and lighter in the chest and elbow area. I believe it has the coast of maine border which is jagged edged. The birthmark stops at the center of my chest, and does not go below my right nipple. Also to note the borders of the birthmark, have some insignificant raised bumps, I'm talking about less than goosebumps, and anyone with imperfect skin would have them, they are hardly visible, and are detected by a delicate touch.
The raised spots are on the border and the newly forming areas (between the wrist and elbow)
I am now 27 years old and lived with it for as long as I can remember, but recently i've noticed the birthmark to be growing a bit so here are my questions/concerns.
1) can/do birthmarks grow? Can it be irritated by scratching or sunlight exposure? I had very little on my arms (wrist to elbow area), then i noticed it spreading throughout the years (4-8 years), I cannot tell if it was from irritation of scratching or sunlight or what? Is this normal?
2) Is it McCune Albright syndrome? I only qualify for 1 of the 3 categories, I dont believe I have any bone disease or premature puberty occuring. Can I have a Coast of Maine birthmark that is so large and not be a McCune Albright syndrome?
3) Could this be NF1? (Neurofibromatosis type 1) or any NF? From my knowledge, I do not have
-Two or more neurofibromas on the skin or under the skin or one plexiform neurofibroma (a large cluster of tumors involving multiple nerves); Neurofibromas are the subcutaneous bumps that are characteristic of the disease and increase in number with age.
Or
-Freckling of the groin or the axilla (arm pit).
Or
-Skeletal abnormalities, such as sphenoid dysplasia or thinning of the cortex of the long bones of the body (i.e. bones of the leg, potentially resulting in bowing of the legs)
Or
-Lisch nodules (hamartomas of iris), freckling in the iris. Tumors on the optic nerve, also known as an optic glioma
4) I've been experiencing full body itch, and couldnt find the cause of it. I went to the doctors for a checkup and they took blood samples and tested and there was nothing wrong with me. I cant tell if the itch is a habit or an itch now.....i've scratch for a month or two, leaving scars on the areas i've scratch, but the scratching have subsided, and I do notice it was somwhat related to stress, but at a point I thought it was Hep B, or some sort of liver failure, but Ive tested and came out clean. Like I said I've stopped scratching for now, and i just wnated to know what caused that? I didnt switch clothing, soap, detergent, diet, place of sleep etc.
5) And if everything turns out great, I have this final question, can such a large birthmark be removed, and removed in a such a way it looks......natural?
Like I said I've been lviing with this for over 20 years and until recent I've started doing some online searching.
Please bear with me, this is a lengthy email and I have mulitple questions.
First off I would like to describe this birthmark.
- It is large in shape, covering my right chest, to my right shoulder then half of my right bicep to the elbow, then there are some spots showing on my right wrist.
It is darker in color near the shoulder/bicep area and lighter in the chest and elbow area. I believe it has the coast of maine border which is jagged edged. The birthmark stops at the center of my chest, and does not go below my right nipple. Also to note the borders of the birthmark, have some insignificant raised bumps, I'm talking about less than goosebumps, and anyone with imperfect skin would have them, they are hardly visible, and are detected by a delicate touch.
The raised spots are on the border and the newly forming areas (between the wrist and elbow)
I am now 27 years old and lived with it for as long as I can remember, but recently i've noticed the birthmark to be growing a bit so here are my questions/concerns.
1) can/do birthmarks grow? Can it be irritated by scratching or sunlight exposure? I had very little on my arms (wrist to elbow area), then i noticed it spreading throughout the years (4-8 years), I cannot tell if it was from irritation of scratching or sunlight or what? Is this normal?
2) Is it McCune Albright syndrome? I only qualify for 1 of the 3 categories, I dont believe I have any bone disease or premature puberty occuring. Can I have a Coast of Maine birthmark that is so large and not be a McCune Albright syndrome?
3) Could this be NF1? (Neurofibromatosis type 1) or any NF? From my knowledge, I do not have
-Two or more neurofibromas on the skin or under the skin or one plexiform neurofibroma (a large cluster of tumors involving multiple nerves); Neurofibromas are the subcutaneous bumps that are characteristic of the disease and increase in number with age.
Or
-Freckling of the groin or the axilla (arm pit).
Or
-Skeletal abnormalities, such as sphenoid dysplasia or thinning of the cortex of the long bones of the body (i.e. bones of the leg, potentially resulting in bowing of the legs)
Or
-Lisch nodules (hamartomas of iris), freckling in the iris. Tumors on the optic nerve, also known as an optic glioma
4) I've been experiencing full body itch, and couldnt find the cause of it. I went to the doctors for a checkup and they took blood samples and tested and there was nothing wrong with me. I cant tell if the itch is a habit or an itch now.....i've scratch for a month or two, leaving scars on the areas i've scratch, but the scratching have subsided, and I do notice it was somwhat related to stress, but at a point I thought it was Hep B, or some sort of liver failure, but Ive tested and came out clean. Like I said I've stopped scratching for now, and i just wnated to know what caused that? I didnt switch clothing, soap, detergent, diet, place of sleep etc.
5) And if everything turns out great, I have this final question, can such a large birthmark be removed, and removed in a such a way it looks......natural?
Like I said I've been lviing with this for over 20 years and until recent I've started doing some online searching.
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