In some children, a Mongolian spot is diagnosed immediately after birth . What is it? The Mongolian spot is the pigmentation of the skin, which 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 with melanomas. As practice shows, the Mongolian spot disappears on its own after 4-5 years.
Why is it called
Why is such pigmentation called only the "Mongolian spot"? Indeed, what is the secret? The fact is that 90% of children of the Mongoloid race are born with a similar mark. At risk are Ainu, Eskimos, Indians, Indonesians, Japanese, Koreans, Chinese and Vietnamese. Also, the Mongolian spot often occurs in kids 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 sacral region. There are many names for such pigmentation. Often they have 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 epidermis. Pigmentation depends on how many special cells are in the skin of a person, as well as on their activity. Melanocytes are in the epidermis and produce pigment. It is he who affects the shade of the skin.
Studies show that 1 mm 2 of the epidermis has no more than 2000 melanocytes. Their number is only 10% of the total number of cells. However, the functional activity of melanocytes affects the shade of the skin. 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 significantly less. Often this only happens when exposed to sunlight. As a result, the skin is tanned. In humans, the black or yellow race melanin is produced continuously. That is why the skin and acquire such a shade.
Causes of pigmentation
The Mongolian spot in the newborn does not appear at birth. While the embryo in the womb develops, melanocytes migrate to the epidermis from the ectoderm. According to scientists, a Mongolian spot is formed as a result of an incomplete process of moving cells with pigment. In other words, after the baby is born, melanocytes remain in the dermis. The pigment that is produced by these cells causes color changes in the skin. As a result of this phenomenon, a spot appears on the skin of the baby, which has a gray-blue tint.
Scientists came to the conclusion that the Mongolian spot arises due to the presence of a slightly pathological embryonic development, which is due to the presence of a special gene in the body of the fetus.
The clinical picture of pigmentation
The Mongolian spot, the photo of which is presented in the article, is formed in the region of the sacrum and looks like a bruise. Such pigmentation is classified as congenital nevus. Most often, the stain has a gray-blue hue, but in some cases it can acquire a blue-brown or blue-black color.
Among the symptoms, it is worth highlighting a uniform color, common throughout the pigmentation area. As for the configuration of the spot, it can be completely different. Nevus can be round or oval. However, most often the Mongolian spot has an irregular shape. Pigmentation sizes also vary. It can be one big spot or several small ones.
Mongolian spot localization
In a child, a Mongolian spot at birth can be located not only in the sacral region. Pigmentation often appears on the back and buttocks, occupying a fairly large area of the skin. Of course, in many newborns, blue spots are localized in the coccyx and lower back. However, there are cases when 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 lower back.
Does the stain disappear?
In newborns, the Mongolian spot has a bright color. However, after some time, 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, a defect may persist for life. This also applies to cases where 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 worthwhile to seek advice from a narrow-profile specialist - a dermatologist. The doctor should conduct a differential diagnosis. This will determine what pigmentation is: a Mongolian spot or other types of pigmented nevus. After all, other neoplasms are not excluded. The Mongolian spot can be mistaken for Ota nevus, blue nevus, pigmented hair nevus, and so on. All these neoplasms are melanoma-hazardous and at any moment can degenerate into malignant. If such nevi are present on the skin of the baby, then it 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 a multiple increase.
- Syakopia. This is a spectrophotometric scan of a pigmented skin area.
- For a more accurate diagnosis, a spot biopsy can be performed. This method is often used to detect diseases of a slightly different nature, for example, with warts, syringing, nodular pruritus, and so on.
Treatment and prevention
After a full examination and diagnosis, the dermatologist should prescribe adequate treatment. If 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 passes on its own and does not cause discomfort. Prevention in this case is also not carried out.
Forecast
If at birth a Mongolian spot appeared on the tailbone or on the buttocks, then you should not be scared. The prognosis in most cases is favorable. Studies show that cases of degeneration of such pigmentation in melanoma have not yet been recorded. For the same reason, the Mongolian spot does not need therapy. Five years after the appearance of pigmentation may disappear. Only in some cases does it persist until adolescence or remains for life. The Mongolian spot does not cause discomfort and does not bother the child.