All parents are concerned that their baby will be born perfectly healthy. During pregnancy, a series of tests and analyzes are carried out, which rule out possible diseases. But there are some pathologies that cannot always be detected intrauterine. So the fears that parents suffer are logical, until they verify that their child is well.
Some babies are born with bluish patches on the lower back. It is normal for parents to associate this spot with a blow or accident suffered during childbirth, since the appearance of this spot is similar to that of a bruise. This spot is more common than it sounds and is called a Mongolian spot or congenital dermal melanocytosis.
When parents hear this name, their first reaction is to panic, which is completely logical. Therefore, we will explain what exactly is the Mongolian stain. In this way, if your baby is born with this spot or appears shortly after birth, you will know that in principle you should not worry. Although of course, the first thing you should do is talk to the health personnel so that they can solve all your doubts.
What is Mongolian baby spot
The first thing you should know is that the Mongolian stain has nothing to do with Down Syndrome. In Spain, the word Mongolian was used in the past to refer to people who had Down Syndrome. Although it is less and less frequent to hear it, it is logical that when parents hear that name, their first reaction is great confusion and concern.
The Mongolian spot receives that name, because curiously children born in Mongolia are usually born with these spots on their skin. In most cases, the Mongolian spot It occurs in children of oriental, Indian and black races. When the Mongolian spot appears in Caucasian children, it is usually in children who are born with darker skin.
This stain is due to an accumulation of melanocytic cells in the deeper layers of the skin, which are the cells that produce the substance that gives skin its color, melanin.
It usually appears in the lower back and also extends to the buttocks. In some cases, the stain may also appear in other areas, such as the extremities, shoulders and in more isolated cases, on the thighs and feet. Its extension is quite large, considering that it appears in newborn babies, usually measures between about 4 and 12 centimeters.
It is a smooth area of the skin, it does not present any texture or roughness, it has more pigmentation than the rest of the skin. It is greenish-blue in color, very similar to the color that skin acquires with a bruise. That's why parents They are usually associated with an injury produced at the time of delivery.
When the baby's Mongolian spot disappears
The bluish stain usually disappears in most cases, it will usually be completely eliminated before reaching school age. There is no need to apply any type of treatment, the stain will gradually disappear.
The most important thing is that you should not worry, the Mongolian spot is very common and it is not dangerous or harmful to the baby.
If your baby is born with these spots or you see that it appears shortly after birth, it may be the Mongolian spot. Don't worry and Go to the doctor so they can assess your child's case, the pediatrician will be able to certify if it is the Mongolian spot. There is no need to perform any tests that could harm your baby, so you don't need to worry.
But if it is important that the doctor determines what it is, there are many types of stains that can be misleading and require other treatment.