$Unique_ID{BRK02026}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Recognizing a "Mongolian Spot"}
$Subject{mongolian spot dermal melanocytes melanin pigment pigmentation birth
marks birth mark genetic inherited}
$Volume{}
$Log{
Anatomy of the Skin*0006701.scf}

Copyright (c) 1993  Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Recognizing a "Mongolian Spot"


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QUESTION:  My family has some Cherokee Indian blood from several generations
back.  All of my children and my grandchildren have had a faint spot on their
lower back, above the buttocks.  This disappears in a few months.  When I
asked two of my doctors, years ago, about the spot, they simply said it was a
"Mongolian spot".  Can you tell me anything about this?  Thank you.

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ANSWER:  Originally this spot, present on the buttocks or in the area of the
lower back of a newborn, was thought to be a characteristic of the Mongoloid
race, and so was give the name "Mongolian spot".  Actually it can be present
in newborns of all races, although it is much more common in some,
particularly Chinese and individuals with dark skin complexion.  The spot may
vary in size and shape, and is usually greyish or tinted blue.  And it also is
inherited, and so runs in families as it does in yours.
     The coloration in the spot is caused by a collection of cells called
"dermal melanocytes" which contain a higher concentration of melanin or
pigment.  It lasts for several months, then begins to disappear gradually.
The rate of disappearance speeds up around the age of 6, and there are usually
no remains of the spot by age ten.  These are just guidelines, for the changes
vary from individual to individual, and the pigmentation may fade away at a
much younger age.  Obviously there is no lasting problem in these children,
nor any ill effects that are the result of this pigmentation.
     Mongolian spots are not at all rare, but these do sometimes pose a bit of
a quandary for the practicing physician, especially when seen in children of
racial backgrounds that do not generally have these spots.  In such cases, the
question of child abuse must be considered, for a bruise may often be seen in
this same region as the result of a violent spanking, and may be passed off as
just another Mongolian spot.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.