Comments on: Asian Medical Hazard: Mongolian Spots

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:16:26 +0000

I am of English/Swedish descent and my husband is of German/American Indian descent. The American Indian portion of his heritage is only a “sliver.” Before we were pregnant, his family spoke of his father’s mother (his grandmother) as flamboyant and someone prone to embellishing the family information. In fact, it was family “lore” that his grandmother was said to claim that she was an “indian princess.” I am fair skinned and my husband has some pigment to his skin – it is darker than mine and does get very dark, very quickly in the summer. When our daugher was born, she had several dark “blue” spots on the tailbone and buttocks. The Doctor noted the “mongolian spots” on her birth record. To our knowledge, and after checking with the family, no other children (from three generations – we are ‘older’ parents) have been born with these spots. My husband’s grandmother has passed on – but we now have a ‘new little indian princess’… with the spots to prove it!

By: Denise

Denise — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:29:18 +0000

I am african american and I was born with a mongolian spot and so was my son it’s noted on my birth certifcate…it’s not just an asian thing…it’s just not that common amongst caucasians…..

By: Daniel W.

Daniel W. — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 18:52:08 +0000

I’m pretty sure that this is a tall tale, rumor/legend with little or no scientific value but I heard that these spots were a result of our ancestors….generation after generation riding on horses or other animals, later on developing them as a side-effect. Like in general, a trait we developed overtime due to the increasing sedentary lifestyles we were pursuing. It may or may not have any truth in it but I thought it was worth mentioning this fable I heard.

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 05:50:58 +0000

Does it serve an evolutionary purpose? I find this to be a very curious thing, and I am humbled by just how much I don’t know about the world still. Was this a trait selected for in the history of Asian sexual selection? I have never heard of such a thing before.

Tim

By: Kim Lathrop

Kim Lathrop — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 04:58:37 +0000

I believe it is mostly an Asian characteristic, although my mother (eastern European) had it all her life. My daughters are adopted from China, of daughter #1’s adoption group of 12, over 1/2 had it (#1’s is gone now)

By: jgold

jgold — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:21:03 +0000

efren i also do work in genetics, my research is more on stem cell therapy and pharmacology. Can you suggest some early tests such as gene chip “link location/firm” and or treatments to prevent adolesent disabilities or symptoms. thanks in advance

By: Kandi

Kandi — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:20:08 +0000

I never ever knew that people would get in *trouble* for that. It’s common knowledge, or at least I thought it was. I’ve heard stories from EVERY culture about those spots, so I naturally assumed that people wouldn’t mistake them for bruises. My kids were in daycare and never ever were questioned for those spots. Sad that some people go through that. *shaking head*

By: Aya

Aya — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:14:49 +0000

I remember having the blue/green butt as a young child, and how it slowly faded away. Wow, I hadn’t thought of that for a really long time.

By: Moye

Moye — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:10:12 +0000

my sister and i had them!!! and i still have mine!! ahhh! my mom uses it as proof that i never grew up.

am i the only adult who has this still?

By: Efren

Efren — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 06:24:26 +0000

If I remember correctly from my job in genetics, mongolian spots (the correct terminology has it actually lower case, not upper case) can also be a sign of a spinal malformation which in turn can be attributed to different genetic syndromes. Genetics physicians are trained to spot the difference as well, since some of these syndromes can be pretty bad in terms of management and prognosis.