Definition:
Also known as liver spots and solar lentigines, age spots are flat, gray, brown or black spots. They differ in size and usually appear on the face, hands, shoulders and arms — areas most exposed to the sun.
Diagnosis:
The doctor can diagnose liver spots by inspecting the skin. Some conditions that may look similar to liver spots are moles, seborrheic keratoses, and lentigo maligna.
Treatment:
Some treatments include: medications, laser therapy, freexing, dermabrasion, and chemical peel.
Symptoms and Signs:
Age spots are flat, oval areas of increased pigmentation — typically brown, black or gray. They usually develop in people with a fair complexion but can be seen even in those with darker skin. Age spots arise on skin that has had the most sun exposure over the years, such as the backs of hands, tops of feet, face, shoulders and upper back.
Causes:
Ultraviolet (UV) light speeds up the production of melanin. Melanin is the dark pigment in the epidermis that gives the skin its normal color. The extra melanin — produced to protect the deeper layers of the skin — creates the darker color of a tan. Age spots appear when the extra melanin becomes "clumped" or is produced in higher concentrations than normal.
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