When you’re pregnant or have just brought a baby into the world, you want nothing more than for it to be healthy. Yet little ones can have birthmarks at or after delivery. One of these is an archipelago spot.
As a parent, it’s quite natural that you might be shocked to discover a birthmark on your baby. But these don’t always have to be serious by a long shot. Some are also easily treatable or go away on their own. In this article we provide information about the archipelago birthmark.
What is an archipelago spot?
An archipelago spot is a dark spot, sometimes even bluish in appearance, that can often be seen on a baby’s back or buttocks. The spot is often oval in shape and can vary considerably in size. Your baby is not bothered by the spot, and it is always harmless.
In the vernacular, the archipelago spot was sometimes called “Mongolian spot. However, the stain owes this name to Mongolian people, because the stain often occurred in them. It has nothing to do with Down syndrome.
The archipelago spot occurs much more frequently in babies with dark skin. It is a patch of skin where the pigment cells are much more active and concentrated than in other places. This creates a dark color.
Source: dermatologist.com Huidarts.nl
Treatment of a mongoloid spot
Fortunately, an archipelago or mongol spot is nothing serious. The spot usually develops right after birth. Some babies are born with it. The spot usually gets bigger in the first year. Then the spot fades, until it is almost not visible.
As a parent, it’s natural to be startled by an archipelago stain. It has a fierce dark color, which can sometimes even look like a serious bruise. Because of this misconception, sometimes people think of child abuse, while this is not the case at all. The archipelago spot remains the same color for a long time and is not at all painful for the child.
Birthmarks in babies: all about an archipelago spot