What is the Mongolian spot?
By Matthew Martinez
Mongolian spots; Congenital dermal melanocytosis. Dermal melanocytosis is the name of a kind of birthmark that is flat, blue, or blue-gray. They appear at birth or in the first few weeks of life. Dermal melanocytosis was formerly called Mongolian blue spots.
What race has Mongolian spots?
Mongolian spots (MS) are congenital birthmarks seen most commonly over the lumbosacral area. They are bluish-green to black in color and oval to irregular in shape. They are most commonly found in individuals of African or Asian ethnic background.Why do babies have Mongolian spots?
What causes Mongolian blue spots? Mongolian blue spots appear on the skin at or shortly after birth. The spots appear when melanocytes (cells that produce pigment, or melanin) remain in the deeper skin layer during embryonic development.Why are Mongolian spots called Mongolian?
The name Mongolian blue spots came about because the spots were most commonly found in children of Mongolian or other Asian ancestries.How common is Mongolian spot?
More than 90% of Native Americans, 80% of Asians, and 70% of Hispanics have Mongolian spots; less than 10% of whites have Mongolian spots.What are Mongolian Spots in Newborns: Should you be worried? | Dr. Kristine Kiat
Do white babies have Mongolian spots?
How common are they? According to a 2013 review , slate gray nevi affect about 10% of white babies, 50% of Hispanic babies, and 90–100% of Black and Asian babies.Do black babies have Mongolian spots?
Congenital melanocytosis, previously known as Mongolian spots, is a very common condition in any part of the body of dark-skinned babies. The spots are flat, gray-blue in color (almost looking like a bruise), and can be small or large.Why do Asians have a blue spot?
Causes. Dermal melanocytosis is common among people of Asian, Native American, Hispanic, East Indian, and African descent. The color of the birth mark is from a collection of melanocytes in the deeper layers of the skin. Melanocytes are cells that make the pigment (color) in the skin.Do Chinese babies have Mongolian spots?
Mongolian spots were present in all newborns and disappeared slowly until 6 years of age when the rate of disappearance increased. At 10 years of age, none were found. The overall incidence regardless of age was 58% in boys and 53.3% in girls.Do Indian babies have Mongolian spots?
Mongolian spot is the most frequently seen pigmented skin lesion in newborns. They can be present at birth or develop within the first few weeks of life. These 'birth marks' can appear in all racial groups, but as the name Mongolian implies, they are most common in Asian and Native American infants.Do all biracial babies have Mongolian spots?
A child may have one or several. At least one Mongolian spot is present on over 90% of Native Americans and people of African descent, over 80% of Asians, over 70% of Hispanics, and just under 10% of fair-skinned infants (Clinical Pediatric Dermatology, 1993).Do Mongolian spots get bigger?
The typical Mongolian spot is noted at birth and size may vary from a few millimeters to more than 10 cm. They may increase in size for 1 to 2 years and peak in color intensity at 1 year. They become less noticeable and eventually fade during the first few years of life but they occasionally persist.Can Mongolian spots be removed?
If Mongolian spots persist in adulthood or if they are present in uncommon areas, laser removal is among the most effective treatment options you can consider.Why do Hispanic babies have Mongolian spots?
Dermal melanocytosis is common among people of Asian, Native American, Hispanic, East Indian, and African descent. The color of the birth mark is from a collection of melanocytes in the deeper layers of the skin. Melanocytes are cells that make the pigment (color) in the skin.What is blue bum?
A bluish-black pigmented birthmark (NAEVUS) occurring on the buttocks or lower part of the back, especially in coloured children. Mongolian spots are caused by a local accumulation of the normal skin pigment (melanin). They have usually disappeared by the age of about 4.Do Chinese people have Mongolian spots?
Mongolian spots are frequent among the Mongolian and Negroid children, but relatively rare in whites.Do Native Americans have Mongolian spots?
Mongolian Spots:They occur in over 90 percent of Native American, Asian, Hispanic, and African American babies. They are also seen in 10 percent of Caucasians, especially those of Mediterranean descent. They occur most commonly over the back and buttocks.