Some babies are diagnosed with Mongolian spot right after birth. What is it? The Mongolian spot is a skin pigmentation that has an irregular or rounded shape and a gray-blue tint. Most often, this phenomenon is localized in the lumbosacral region. In fact, pigmentation is a congenital nevus. When diagnosing a neoplasm, special importance is given to its differentiation from melanoma-dangerous. As practice shows, the Mongolian spot disappears on its own after 4–5 years.
Why is it called that
Why is this pigmentation called "Mongolian spot"? Indeed, what is the secret? The fact is that 90% of the children of the Mongoloid race are born with a similar mark. At risk are the Ainu, Eskimos, Indians, Indonesians, Japanese, Koreans, Chinese and Vietnamese. Also, the Mongolian spot often occurs in babies of the Negroid race. As for Caucasians, such neoplasms are present on the body in only 1% of newborns.
The Mongolian spot is usually located in the sacrum. There are many names for such pigmentation. Often they have it as a "sacred spot".
Features of the disease
Why does a Mongolian spot appear in a newborn? The skin has several interconnected layers: the dermis and the epidermis. Pigmentation depends on how many special cells are present in human skin, as well as on their activity. Melanocytes are found in the epidermis and produce pigment. It is he who affects the shade of the skin.
Studies show that 1 mm2 of the epidermis has no more than 2000 melanocytes. Their number is only 10% of the total number of cells. However, the skin tone is affected by the functional activity of melanocytes. Various kinds of disturbances in the activity of such cells can cause the development of diseases such as halonevus, vitiligo, and so on.
As for people with white skin, the melanin in their body is produced much less. Often this happens only under the influence of sunlight. As a result, the skin is covered with a tan. In a person of a black or yellow race, melanin is produced constantly. That is why the skin takes on such a shade.
Causes of pigmentation
The Mongolian spot in a newborn does not appear at birth. While the embryo develops in the womb, melanocytes migrate into the epidermis from the ectoderm. According to scientists, the Mongolian spot is formed inthe result of an unfinished process of moving cells with pigment. In other words, after the birth of the baby, melanocytes remain in the dermis. The pigment that is produced by these cells, and causes changes in the color of the skin. As a result of this phenomenon, a spot appears on the baby's skin that has a gray-blue tint.
Scientists have come to the conclusion that the Mongolian spot occurs due to the presence of a slight pathology of embryonic development, which is due to the presence of a special gene in the body of the fetus.
Clinical picture of pigmentation
The Mongolian spot, the photo of which is presented in the article, is formed in the area of the sacrum and looks like a bruise. Such pigmentation is classified as congenital nevi. Most often, the stain has a gray-blue tint, but in some cases it can turn blue-brown or blue-black.
Among the symptoms, it is worth highlighting a uniform color spread over the entire area of pigmentation. As for the spot configuration, it can be completely different. The nevus may be round or oval. However, most often the Mongolian spot has an irregular shape. Pigmentation sizes also vary. It can be one large spot or several small ones.
Localization of the Mongolian spot
In a child, the Mongolian spot at birth can be located not only in the sacrum. Often, pigmentation appears on the back and buttocks, occupying fairly large areas of the skin. Of course, many newborns have bluespots are localized in the coccyx and lower back. However, there are cases when areas of the skin of the forearm, back, legs and other parts of the body were subjected to pigmentation.
In some children, the Mongolian spot is able to change location. In certain situations, pigmentation shifts to the buttocks or to the lower back.
Does the stain disappear?
In newborns, the Mongolian spot has a bright color. However, after a while, it becomes dimmer and gradually begins to fade. At the same time, pigmentation begins to decrease in size. It is worth noting that in most cases the Mongolian spot disappears on its own. This happens 5 years after the appearance of pigmentation on the skin of a newborn.
In some cases, the Mongolian spot remains and does not disappear until adolescence. It is worth noting that in children whose pigmentation is localized in atypical places, the defect may remain for life. This also applies to those cases when the Mongolian spot consists of many spots.
Diagnostic Methods
If a pigment spot was found on the skin of a child, then first of all it is worth seeking advice from a highly specialized specialist - a dermatologist. The doctor should conduct a differential diagnosis. This will determine what pigmentation is: a Mongolian spot or other types of pigmented nevi. After all, other neoplasms are not excluded. The Mongolian spot can be mistaken for the nevus of Ota, blue nevus, hairypigmented nevus and so on. All these neoplasms are melanoma-dangerous and at any time can degenerate into malignant ones. If such nevi are present on the baby's skin, then he should be registered not only with a dermatologist, but also with an oncologist.
To make an accurate diagnosis, a number of studies are prescribed. This list includes:
- Dermatoscopy. In this case, the neoplasm is carefully studied under multiple magnification.
- Siacopy. This is a spectrophotometric scan of a pigmented area of the skin.
- For a more accurate diagnosis, a biopsy of the spot can be performed. This method is often used to detect diseases of a slightly different nature, for example, with warts, syringoma, nodular pruritus, and so on.
Treatment and prevention
After a full examination and diagnosis, a dermatologist should prescribe an adequate treatment. If the pigmentation on the skin is a Mongolian spot, then therapy is not carried out. A child with such changes should be registered with a specialist. Children with pigmentation should undergo various examinations at least once a year.
It is worth noting that the Mongolian spot is not a disease. As a rule, pigmentation disappears on its own and does not cause discomfort. Prevention in this case is also not carried out.
Forecast
If at birth a child has a Mongolian spot on the coccyx or on the buttocks, thenyou shouldn't be scared. The prognosis is favorable in most cases. Studies show that cases of degeneration of such pigmentation into melanoma have not yet been recorded. For the same reason, the Mongolian spot does not need therapy. Five years after the onset, pigmentation may disappear. Only in some cases it persists until adolescence or remains for life. The Mongolian spot does not cause discomfort and does not bother the child.
