You may have heard of a Mongolian spot, also known as a slate gray nevus. It is a common, benign skin disorder that can occur in newborn babies. A Mongolian spot is a blue-gray discoloration on the skin of babies. It appears within a few days after birth and can come in different sizes. In this article, we’ll explain this phenomenon in more detail, how it occurs and how it disappears again.
How to identify a Mongolian spot?
A Mongolian spot looks like a birthmark, but it is often lighter and more blue-gray in color. It may appear during or just after birth. Usually you will see several spots and they will mainly occur on your baby’s rump, buttocks and back. Your baby may also present these spots on his or her chest, abdomen, arms and shoulders, although that is a lot less common. Some Mongolian spots can be so large that they cover an entire body part. Often it is so self-evident that it is a Mongolian spot that no biopsy is needed to determine its nature.
A German professor discovered this phenomenon and then claimed that it was characteristic of people from Mongolia. Nothing could be further from the truth. However, it is quite true that Mongolian spots are seen in at least 80% of children of Asian descent and in African and Native American babies. Mongolian spots are rare in Caucasian babies and are also more common in boys than in girls.
How do Mongolian spots form?
Much is still unclear about the origin of Mongol spots. However, it is clear that it has to do with the accumulation of melanocytes (the cells that produce pigment) that are located deep in the skin and probably already develop in the period of the embryo’s development.
What can you do about a Mongolian spot on your baby’s skin?
You can’t prevent your baby from getting a Mongolian spot. There is also no known treatment for it. As this phenomenon is completely harmless, it also does not require any treatment.
Do Mongolian spots disappear on their own?
In most cases, a Mongolian spot disappears on its own within the first few years of a child’s life, although in many cases the spot darkens at first during the child’s first year of life. In the second year of life, the spot is at its largest and then it gradually recedes. Most Mongolian spots are gone by the time children enter kindergarten.
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