Overview
A sacral dimple is a small bump in your newborn’s lower back near the crease of their buttocks. Sacral refers to the sacrum, which is the bone at the bottom of your baby’s spine. A sacral dimple is a congenital condition, which means your baby was born with it. A sacral dimple won’t go away. But as your child grows, it becomes less noticeable.
Most sacral dimples don’t cause any problems. Sometimes, a sacral dimple can be a sign of an underlying spinal issue. These include spina bifida and tethered spinal cord.
Spina bifida happens when your developing baby’s spine doesn’t form completely early during your pregnancy. Spina bifida is a type of neural tube defect. The severity of the condition varies widely. Most cases are mild. More severe cases can cause significant nerve and spinal cord damage.
A tethered spinal cord occurs when your baby’s spinal cord is stuck to tissues around their spine. This causes their spinal cord to be fixed in place — it can’t move freely within their spinal canal. This condition can cause your baby’s spinal cord to stretch out as they grow, which can lead to nerve damage.
Your child’s healthcare provider will look closely at a sacral dimple to decide if it may be a sign of a spinal issue. Based on its size and location, your child’s provider may order more tests to rule out spine problems.
How common are sacral dimples?
Approximately 3% to 8% of babies are born with a sacral dimple.
What’s the difference between back dimples and sacral dimples?
Back dimples are also indentations found on your child’s lower back. But they come in a set of two — one on each side of your child’s spine. Tissues called ligaments create these lower back dimples. Ligaments connect your skin to your pelvic bones.
Back dimples are harmless like sacral dimples. They’re also called butt dimples and dimples of Venus. Venus was the Roman goddess of beauty. Many people believe back dimples enhance your beauty. They believe dimples of Venus can also increase your fertility and give you good luck.
What’s the difference between pilonidal dimples and sacral dimples?
Pilonidal dimples (pilonidal cysts) are also found on your lower back area. But a pilonidal cyst is a round sac of tissue that’s filled with fluid or air. If the cyst becomes infected, it can become swollen and painful. A pilonidal cyst can lead to a swollen pocket of pus (abscess) if left untreated.
You aren’t born with pilonidal cysts. They develop after birth. Pilonidal cysts are most common in teenagers and young adults who were assigned male at birth. This is because coarse body hair and sweat can create a good environment for an infection.
Symptoms
When to see a doctor
Complications
- High blood pressure.
- Diabetes.
- Heart failure.
- Some types of heart valve disease.
Prevention
- Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
- Don't smoke or use tobacco.
- Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
- Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce and manage stress.
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