- How to know if they are Mongolian stains
- When they disappear
- Can Mongolian patches turn into cancer?
- How to care for the skin
The purple spots on the baby usually do not represent any health problem and are not the result of trauma, disappearing at around 2 years of age, without the need for any treatment. These patches are called Mongolian patches and can be bluish, grayish or slightly greenish, oval and are about 10 cm long, and can be found on the back or bottom of the newborn baby.
Mongolian stains are not a health problem, however it is important to keep the baby protected from the sun with the use of sunscreen to prevent problems and skin and darkening of the stain.
How to know if they are Mongolian stains
The doctor and the parents can identify the Mongolian spots as soon as the baby is born, it is common for them to be located on the back, belly, chest, shoulders and in the gluteal region and it is not usually necessary to do any specific exam to reach its diagnosis..
If the stain is located on other areas of the baby's body, is not as extensive or appears overnight, a bruise, which occurs due to a blow, trauma or injection, may be suspected. If violence against the baby is suspected, parents or authorities should be notified.
When they disappear
Although in most cases Mongolian patches disappear until 2 years of age, they can persist into adulthood, in which case it is called Persistent Mongolian Spot, and can affect other areas of the body such as face, arms, hands and foot.
Mongolian spots gradually disappear, becoming clearer as the baby grows. Some areas may lighten faster than others, but once it is lighter, it will not be dark again.
Parents and pediatricians can take pictures in very bright places to assess the color of the stain on the baby's skin over the months. Most parents notice that the stain has completely disappeared by the baby's 16 or 18 months.
Can Mongolian patches turn into cancer?
Mongolian blemishes are not a skin problem and do not turn into cancer. However, a case was reported of only one patient who had persistent Mongolian spots and was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, but the link between cancer and Mongolian spots has not been confirmed.
How to care for the skin
As the color of the skin is darker, naturally there is greater sun protection in the areas covered by Mongolian spots. However, it is always important to protect your baby's skin with sunscreen whenever he is exposed to the sun. See how to expose your baby to the sun without health risks.
Despite this, all babies need to sunbathe, being exposed to the sun for about 15 to 20 minutes, early in the morning, until 10 am, without any type of sun protection so that their body can absorb the vitamin D, which is important for the growth and strengthening of bones.
During this brief sunbath, the baby should not be alone, nor with much clothes, as it can get very hot. Ideally, the baby's face, arms and legs are exposed to the sun. If you think your baby is hot or cold, always check your temperature by placing your hand on the baby's neck and back.
