Mongolian spot

Definitions

A benign, flat, congenital, usually blue to blue-black birthmark on the lower back with wavy borders and irregular shape, prevalent among East Asians, South-East Asians, Polynesians, Native Americans, East Africans, and the Turkish people. It normally disappears three to five years after birth and almost always by puberty.

Equivalents

Examples

“Mongolian spots are produced by melanocyte leftovers that do not migrate⟳ into the epidermis; they remain⟳ deeper than usual in the lumbar-sacral region, resulting in blue coloration of the skin. Mongolian spots occur⟳ mainly on the buttocks and lower back, and occasionally on the abdomen, thighs, and arms. They occur⟳ in 90 percent of Blacks, 80 percent of Orientals and Native Americans, and 9 percent of Whites.”

“2004, Adapted from Walter W. Tunnessen, Daniel P. Krowchuk, Chapter 46: Pediatric Dermatology, Michael Crocetti, Michael A. Barone, Frank A. Oski (editors), Oski's Essential Pediatrics, page 135, Mongolian spot is an unfortunate name⟳ for this common, benign skin discoloration. Present⟳ at birth, mongolian spots are blue-gray or blue-green and represent⟳ areas of dermal melanocytosis.”

“Mongolian spots consist⟳ of embryonic pigment that has been left behind in the epidermal layer during fetal development.[…]Mongolian spots are a normal variation in children of African, Asian, or Latin descent.”

CEFR level