During a diaper change, an alert day care worker notices a dark, bruised-looking area at the base of the baby’s spine. Fearing the child is a victim of child abuse, she reports the spot to her supervisor. The supervisor tells her not to worry because, ‘it is just a Mongolian spot.’ Did her supervisor give the day care worker correct advice? What are ‘Mongolian spots’, and can they be treated?

a pigmented patch called a mongolian spot develops when dermal microphages scavenge escaping melanin. No treatment Required.