Contents:
- Medical Video: My Baby Has a Birthmark
- Mongolian spot is a birthmark in babies who are dark blue
- Causes of birthmarks Mongolian spots in infants
- Is the Mongolian spot in babies dangerous?
- Is there a way to treat Mongolian spots?
Medical Video: My Baby Has a Birthmark
About 80 percent of babies born have birthmarks that appear in various shapes, colors and sizes. If you see a birthmark in your baby in the form of flat grayish patches that are quite dark with irregular shapes, this means the baby has a Mongolian spot. Is it dangerous?
Mongolian spot is a birthmark in babies who are dark blue
Mongolian spots are pigment type birthmarks. That is, the birthmark is formed from the buildup of pigment melanocytes (natural skin dyes) in one area of the skin during the embryo of the baby is still in development in the womb.
A collection of melanocytes trapped under the skin will then produce flat spots in gray, green, dark blue, or black. Although the color is similar to bruises or bruises that usually appear after being hit by something, the birthmark in this baby does not cause pain.
Mongolian spots are usually 2-8 cm in size with irregular random shapes, and are often found in closed body parts such as the buttocks and lower back, but can also be in the legs or arms. In medical terms, the Mongolian birthmark is also called innate skin melanocytosis. Indonesian people may be more familiar with the term "tompel".
Causes of birthmarks Mongolian spots in infants
Until now no health expert knows exactly what causes pigmentation under the skin.
However, the mongolian spot is often found in dark-skinned babies such as the Mongoloid race (Asians) and the Negroid race (Africans).
Is the Mongolian spot in babies dangerous?
Quoted from Healthline, birthmarks in these babies are not dangerous and are not related to certain health conditions or skin diseases. Mongolian spots cannot be prevented, but generally will fade on their own before children enter adolescence.
In very rare cases, the Mongolian spot is large enough and extends, outside the area of the back or buttocks, which can arise as an accompanying symptom of rare metabolic diseases such as:
- Hurler's disease
- Hunter's syndrome
- Niemann-Pick Disease
- Mukolipidosis
- Mannosidosis
You should also immediately check with your doctor if the birthmark changes in shape, color, or size. It could be that the mole is a sign of skin cancer.
Is there a way to treat Mongolian spots?
Mongolian spots are not dangerous, so they really don't need to be treated. If you are in doubt, your doctor can check the birthmark spots on your baby regularly to see if there are abnormal changes that refer to the symptoms of skin cancer.
Birthmarks can be removed through surgery or through a laser procedure if it does interfere with appearance. Research published by the journal Dermatologic Surgery reports that the most effective birthmarks in babies are removed using the alexandrite laser therapy procedure before the age of 20 years.
