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Mongolian spot
Mongolian spots are blue-grey markings of the skin that usually affect the lower back and buttock region. The affected skin is not thickened or changed in any way other than in colour. They are a common form of birthmark. Usually they are a few centimetres in diameter but larger ones may occur. Aberrant Mongolian spots involve unusual sites such as the face or limbs.
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How do you get them and who is at risk?
Mongolian spots are thought to be due to entrapment of melanocytes (pigment cells) in the dermis that have failed to reach their proper location in the epidermis in the developing embryo.
They are present at birth and occur in more than 90% of children of Mongoloid race (e.g. East Asians, Polynesians, Indonesians, Micronesians). They occur less frequently in other races.
What treatments are available?
Mongolian spots are benign lesions that require no treatment. Usually they spontaneously disappear by the time the child reaches 4 years old. Persistent Mongolian spots may be larger and persist for many years.
Related information
References:
Book: Textbook of Dermatology. Ed Rook A, Wilkinson DS, Ebling FJB, Champion RH, Burton JL. Blackwell Scientific Publications.
On DermNet NZ:
- Birthmarks (naevi)
- Moles (melanocytic naevi)
- Congenital melanocytic naevi
- Blue naevi
- Halo naevi
- Freckles
- Melanoma
Other websites:
- Mongolian spots – emedicine dermatology, the online textbook