The Mongolian spot, also known as the Mark of Genghis Khan or the Slap of Allah, is a form of rare nevi that can appear in children from birth or in the first weeks of life.
The medical term for this condition is congenital dermal melanocytosis.
According to statistics, this condition is more common in people of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and only occurs in 10% or less of fair-skinned children.
Sometimes, a European baby's pedigree may include relatives who are natives of Asia.
How do they manifest themselves?
Mongolian spots appear as grey, greenish, blue or almost black markings that can range in size from a small coin to 6-10 cm in diameter.
Oncologist of the 1st category of the HappyDerm medical center Lyudmila Artyushkevich notes that they are most often found on the baby’s back or buttocks and can frighten young mothers, resembling bruises.
However, in reality, it is simply a cluster of melanocytes - cells that contain the normal skin pigment melanin. Therefore, there is no need to be overly concerned when they appear.
What danger do they pose?
Mongolian spots are harmless and are benign nevi.
In most children, they disappear by the age of 5, and there are no descriptions of cases of malignant degeneration. Therefore, a neonatologist should examine the newborn's "Mongolian spots" after birth and record them in the child's medical record.
This record helps to avoid possible suspicions of physical abuse against the child later. It is impossible to prevent the appearance of spots, and why they occur in some children and not in others remains unclear.
