Mongoloid spot - an area of skin with altered pigmentation, from gray-blue to blue-black. They are found immediately after the birth of the child. In most cases, they are located in the sacral and lumbar region, often moving to the buttocks. Less often, spots or multiple marks can be found on other parts of the body.
The Mongoloid spot in children got its name for the simple reason that it is found only in newborns belonging to the Mongoloid race. The Japanese, Mongols, Indonesians, Eskimos and other peoples with yellow skin produce children with yellow spots.
Europeans don't have these spots. Only 1% of newborns of the white race had such marks. However, this only means that one of the ancestors was yellow-skinned.
According to statistics, every 200th Asian is a carrier of a special gene. This gene belongs to one person who lived around the 12th century. It was called the "gene of Genghis Khan", because it is believed that in ourdays live about 16 million people who are the distant descendants of this great conqueror.
Curiously, the Mongoloid spot has no meaning. It can only be seen as a hint to scientists who are investigating the mysteries of evolution. It has no effect on he alth, physiology, or physical characteristics of a person.
Different nations perceive the presence of these spots differently. Most consider this a divine mark, confirming that the child really belongs to his people. But there are those for whom such marks are considered a disgrace.
Reasons
Skin color is directly dependent on pigment cells called melanocytes. It is these cells that are responsible for the color of human skin. It is estimated that for every square millimeter of the epidermis there are about 2 thousand melanocytes. But the color does not depend on the number of cells, but only on their activity. Improper functioning of melanocytes leads to a number of diseases such as halonevus, vitiligo and others.
In people belonging to the white race, the production of melanin is very small, cell activation occurs only with strong exposure to sunlight. The result of this activity is sunburn. Black and yellow skin produces pigment constantly, which is why the inhabitants of Africa, Australia and Asia have a color that characterizes their belonging to their race.
While the human embryo develops, melanocytes migrate fromdeep layers of the skin to the superficial. Scientists suggest that the appearance of the spot is due to the unfinished migration process. Probably, some part of melanocytes does not come to the surface, but remains in the depths of the skin. The pigment produced by them forms the Mongoloid spot.
Thus, it becomes clear that the reason for the appearance of marks is the pathology of the development of the embryo, which, in turn, is due to the presence of a special gene.
Appearance
Dark mark - congenital nevus. In most cases, the Mongoloid spot in a newborn has a blue-gray color, resembling a bruise. Sometimes these spots are blue-black or blue-brown. A distinctive feature of these spots is considered to be uniform coloring throughout the area with altered pigmentation.
The shape of the spot can be completely different, mostly irregular. Sizes also do not have standards - they range from specks that do not exceed the size of a coin to large spots covering the entire back.
The Mongoloid spot in a newborn is most often concentrated on the lower back or sacrum. But other places of manifestation are also quite likely: the appearance of spots on the legs, back, forearms and even hands is known. Very rarely there are even migratory spots, gradually moving, for example, from the buttocks to the lower back and back.
Most often there is a single stain, but there are also manifestations of multiple marks.
Immediately after birth, the "blots" darken, but over timebecome paler and smaller. In almost all children, by the age of 5, the skin acquires a uniform color. Rarely, marks can be found in adolescents. Mongoloid spots in an adult remain only if there were a lot of them in childhood, and in atypical places.
Diagnosis
Having found an incomprehensible spot on the skin of a child, it is worth contacting a dermatologist. The doctor will conduct a special examination to make sure that these are not pathological pigmented nevi, since some of their varieties can be melanoma-hazardous. If one of these variants is found, it is necessary to constantly be observed by a dermatologist and an oncologist.
To distinguish the Mongoloid spot from other types of nevus, siacopy and dermatoscopy are performed. If the diagnosis needs clarification, the doctor may order a biopsy of the pigmented area.
Treatment
If the examination by a dermatologist is passed and he is sure of the diagnosis, the stain does not need treatment. There is no need to register with a specialist. The Mongoloid spot does not cause any inconvenience and disappears after a few years.
Prevention
Because "God's mark" is not a disease, there is no cure for it. The prognosis for such a nevus is positive. For the entire time of observation of these spots, not a single case of its degeneration into melanoma was registered. For this reason, there is no need for medical supervision.
In most cases, the spot disappears on its own by the age of five. But even in those rare cases,when it remains for life, it has no effect on the he alth or functions of the body.
Attitude
The Mongoloid spot, the photo of which accompanies this article, has a different meaning for different peoples. For example, in Brazil they consider it a shame to have such marks, parents carefully hide this fact even from their closest relatives, not to mention strangers. In addition, the color of the spot among the inhabitants of Brazil is close to greenish, therefore, if a nevus is suddenly found in an adult, he will be teased as "green-backed".
For most peoples, the stain is "Buddha's slap", "God's kiss". It is believed that a child with such a mark will be happy, as God (Buddha, Allah) is looking after him. And, of course, this is an extra opportunity to make sure that the child is a representative of a certain people.
