How do age spots appear

Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Age spots, which are sometimes called liver spots or solar lentigines, happen after exposure to ultraviolet UV light , says dermatologist Amy Kassouf, MD.

They can be tan, brown or black, vary in size and usually appear on the areas most exposed to the sun such as the face, hands, shoulders and arms. Kassouf says. Your skin contains melanin, which gives your skin its color. Melanin also gives you a tan when your skin is exposed to UV light. Age spots appear when melanin becomes clumped in the skin or is produced in high concentrations, such as when your skin is exposed to lots of UV light, Dr.

Age spots on the hand Open pop-up dialog box Close. Age spots on the hand Age spots may grow in size and group together, giving the skin a speckled or mottled appearance. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Schaffer JV, et al. Benign pigmented skin lesions other than melanocytic nevi moles. Accessed Nov. Laser resurfacing adult. Mayo Clinic; Goldstein BG, et al. Overview of benign lesions of the skin. Melanoma prevention.

The American Melanoma Foundation. Dermabrasion for wrinkles. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. Accessed Oct. The link between age and skin cancer is tricky: Basal and squamous cell skin cancers are more common in older people, while melanomas occur in people of all ages.

A dermatologist can take a close look at your skin with a special tool called a dermatoscope to see if the spot is likely to be skin cancer. If so, your dermatologist can recommend a treatment plan. Skin cancer is one of the most treatable types of cancer, and some types can be treated with lasers or creams. Age spots and skin cancer can have a lot of similarities, so it can be tough to tell on your own if a spot is something you should be concerned about.

A Banner Health dermatologist can help evaluate your skin and recommend any needed treatments. To find a dermatologist near you, visit bannerhealth. By Stephanie Thurrott , Contributing Writer. May 05, Teach Me. Age spots can easily be confused with melanoma.

Find out the difference between skin cancer and "sun" spots - and when to call the doctor. Some changes in your skin come with age, such as the unpopular age spots also known as sun spots or liver spots.

These have nothing to do with the liver and are caused instead by long-term sun exposure. Some of these dark spots, however, may look suspiciously like melanoma , the most deadly form of skin cancer.

If you're not a dermatologist, you might be staring at the new brown mark on your skin and wondering whether it's merely a cosmetic issue or something worse. As a general rule, if that spot you're staring at is new to you, it's a good idea to check in with your dermatologist, says John Wolf Jr. People who have a personal or family history of skin cancer should go for an exam sooner. What appear to be new age spots or liver spots could be a good excuse to get this process started.

Even if your dermatologist finds no sign of skin cancer , he or she can let you know whether you have skin issues to watch out for.