Sun Spots and Age Spots

An age spot or liver spot, also called a lentigo, is a flat, round, brown or black patch of skin found on the face, arm, leg, shoulder, or back of the hand. These can occur over large areas of the skin on the face and hands and are usually found in middle-aged or older people who have spent too much time in the sun.   Thought by most physicians to be of cosmetic concern only, there is some literature suggesting that ingestion of polyunsaturated oils in the diet leads to free radical damage of the skin in the form of age spots.  Age spots are not cancerous, nor do they lead to skin cancer.  On sun damaged skin, however, age spots may be accompanied by actinic keratoses, and skin cancers.  All these blemishes should be evaluated by a dermatologist.

Can age spots be prevented? 

Age spots are one sign of premature aging which can be prevented by avoiding the suspected causes, including excessive sun exposure. 

Are there treatments to remove age spots? 

Treatment for age spots is best performed with a laser.  The NdYAG laser or liquid nitrogen cryotherapy are useful for removing one to several lesions on the hands or face.  If more than a few are present, laser resurfacing is the better choice since it will leave a uniform appearance to the skin.

Ultraviolet light in the UVA spectrum is responsible for most of these spots; however, most sunscreens do not effectively block UVA light.  It's better to rely on hats and protective clothing for sun protection.  Topical Vitamin C serum and Vitamin E lotion are antioxidants which protect against both UVA and UVB light.  These can help fade age spots and prevent new ones from forming, especially after a laser treatment.