What are naevi of Ota and Ito?
Nevi of Ota and Ito are coloured skin markings of slate-brown or blue/grey colouring. They are unusual birthmarks in which the melanocytes (pigment cells) are found deeper than normal (in the dermis instead of the epidermis). The difference between a naevus of Ota and a naevus of Ito is its location. Naevus of Ota is on the forehead and face around the eye area; naevus of Ito is on the shoulder and upper arm area. Naevus of Hori has a similar appearance to the naevus of Ota. However, it is not present at birth, and it often affects both sides of the face.
