What are café-au-lait spots?

What are café-au-lait spots?

Café-au-lait (CAL) spots are pigmented birthmarks that appear as patches on your skin with a light to dark brown color that differs from the tone of the rest of your skin. The term “café-au-lait” means “coffee with milk” in French, which refers to the color of the birthmark, comparing it to the creamy tone of a cup of coffee mixed with milk. These birthmarks can range from a few millimeters to more than 20 centimeters in diameter.

CAL spots are present on newborn babies or show up on the skin early during childhood. They can also develop on adults.