Mongolian spot in a newborn: reasons, treatment

Some children immediately after birth are diagnosed with a Mongolian spot. What is it? Mongolian spot is pigmentation of the skin, which has an irregular or rounded shape and a gray-blue hue. Most often, this phenomenon is localized in the lumbosacral area. In fact, pigmentation is a congenital nevus. When diagnosing a neoplasm, special attention is given to its differentiation with melanoma-dangerous ones. As practice shows, Mongolian spot disappears independently after 4-5 years.

Why so called

Why is this pigmentation called nothing but a "Mongolian spot"? Indeed, what is the secret? The fact is that 90% of the children of the Mongoloid race are born with such a mark. At risk are the Ainu, Eskimos, Indians, Indonesians, Japanese, Koreans, Chinese and Vietnamese. Also, the Mongolian spot often occurs in toddlers of the Negroid race. As for Caucasians, such neoplasms are present on the body only in 1% of newborns.

The Mongolian spot is usually located in the sacrum. There are many names for such pigmentation. Often it has a "sacred spot".

Features of the disease

Why does a Mongolian spot appear in a newborn? Skin covers have several interconnected layers: the dermis and epidermis. Pigmentation depends on how many special cells are present in the skin of a person, as well as on their activity. Melanocytes are found in the epidermis and produce a pigment. It is he that affects the shade of the skin.

As studies show, 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 shade of the skin is affected by the functional activity of melanocytes. Various kinds of disorders in the activity of such cells can cause the development of such diseases as halonews, vitiligo and so on.

As for people with white skin, 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 sunburn. In man of black or yellow race melanin is produced constantly. That is why the skin covers and get such a shade.

Causes of pigmentation

The Mongolian spot in the 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 as a result of an incomplete process of moving cells with a pigment. In other words, after the birth of a baby, melanocytes remain in the dermis. Pigment, which is produced by these cells, and causes changes in the color of the skin. On the skin of the baby as a result of this phenomenon appears a spot, which has a gray-blue hue.

Scientists came to the conclusion that the Mongolian spot arises from the presence of a slight pathology of embryonic development, which is due to the presence in the fetal body of a special gene.

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 outwardly resembles a bruise. Take this pigmentation to the category of congenital nevi. Most often the spot has a gray-blue tint, but in some cases it can acquire a blue-brown or a blue-black color.

Among the symptoms, it is worth highlighting a uniform color, spread over the entire area of pigmentation. As for the configuration of the spot, it can be completely different. The nevus can be round or oval. However, most often the Mongolian spot has an irregular shape. The sizes of pigmentation also vary. It can be one big spot or a few small ones.

Localization of the Mongolian Spot

At the child the Mongolian spot at a birth can settle down not only in the field of a sacrum. Often, pigmentation manifests itself on the back and buttocks, occupying quite large areas of skin. Of course, many newborns have localized blue spots in the coccyx and lower back. However, there are cases when the pigmentation areas were exposed to the skin of the forearm, back, shins and other parts of the body.

Some children have a Mongolian spot that can change their location. In certain situations, the pigmentation is shifted to the buttocks or to the waist.

Does the spot disappear?

In newborn children, the Mongolian spot has a bright color. However, after a while it becomes duller and gradually fades. At the same time, the pigmentation begins to decrease in size. It is worth noting that in most cases the Mongolian spot disappears on its own. This occurs 5 years after the appearance of the newborn pigmentation on the skin.

In some cases, the Mongolian spot remains and does not disappear until adolescence. It should be noted that in children whose pigmentation is localized in atypical sites, a defect may last for a lifetime. This also applies when the Mongolian spot consists of many specks.

Methods of diagnosis

If a pigmented spot has been found on the skin of the child, it is first of all necessary to seek advice from a narrowly specialized dermatologist. The physician should conduct differential diagnosis. This will determine what the pigmentation is: Mongolian spot or other types of pigment nevi. After all, other neoplasms are not excluded. The Mongolian spot can be taken for a nevus Ota, a blue nevus, a pigmentary pigment nevus and so on. All these neoplasms are melanoma-hazardous and can at any time be reborn as malignant. If such nevi are present on the skin of a 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:

1. Dermatoscopy. In this case, the neoplasm is carefully studied under a multiple increase.
2. Siacopia. This is a spectrophotometric scan of the pigmented area of the skin.
3. For more accurate diagnosis, a spot biopsy can be performed. This method is often used to identify diseases of a somewhat different nature, for example, with warts, syringoma, nodal pruritis, and so on.

Treatment and prevention

After undergoing a complete examination and diagnosis, the dermatologist must prescribe adequate treatment. If pigmentation on the skin is a Mongolian spot, then therapy is not performed. The child with similar changes should put on the account at the expert. Children with pigmentation should undergo at least once a year various examinations.

It is worth noting that the Mongolian spot is not a disease. As a rule, the pigmentation passes by itself and does not cause any discomfort. Prevention in this case is also not carried out.

Forecast

If a Mongolian spot appears on the coccyx or on the buttocks at birth, then the child should not be frightened. The forecast is favorable in most cases. As studies show, the cases of degeneration of such pigmentation in melanoma have not yet been fixed. For the same reason, the Mongolian spot does not need therapy. Five years after the appearance of pigmentation can disappear. Only in some cases it persists to adolescence or remains for life. The Mongolian spot does not cause any discomfort and does not bother the child.