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Liver spots
Sun-induced skin changes - liver spots; Senile or solar lentigines; Skin spots - aging; Age spots
Liver spots are flat, brown or black spots that can appear on areas of the skin that are exposed to the sun. They have nothing to do with the liver or liver function.
Causes
Liver spots are changes in skin color that occur in older skin. The coloring may be due to aging, exposure to the sun or other sources of ultraviolet light, or causes that are not known.
Liver spots are very common after age 40. They occur most often on areas that have had the greatest sun exposure, such as the:
- Backs of the hands
- Face
- Forearms
- Forehead
- Shoulders
Symptoms
Liver spots appear as a patch or area of skin color change that is:
Patch
A patch is a flat area of color change in the skin that is 1 cm or more wide.
- Flat
- Light brown to black
- Painless
Exams and Tests
Your health care provider usually diagnoses the condition based on how your skin looks, especially if you are over 40 and have had a lot of sun exposure. You may need a skin biopsy to confirm the diagnosis if you have a liver spot that looks irregular.
Treatment
Most of the time, no treatment is needed. Talk to your provider about using bleaching lotions or creams. Most bleaching products use hydroquinone. This medicine is thought to be safe in the form used to lighten darkened skin areas. However, hydroquinone can cause blisters or skin reactions in sensitive people.
Talk to your provider about other treatment options, including:
-
Freezing (
cryotherapy
)
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is a method of superfreezing tissue in order to destroy it. This article discusses cryotherapy of the skin.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Laser treatment
- Intense pulsed light
Outlook (Prognosis)
Liver spots are not dangerous to your health. They are permanent skin changes that affect how your skin looks.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your provider if:
- You have liver spots and want them removed
- You develop any new symptoms, especially changes in the appearance of a liver spot
Prevention
Protect your skin from the sun by taking the following steps:
Protect your skin from the sun
Many skin changes, such as skin cancer, wrinkles, and age spots are caused by exposure to the sun. The two types of sun rays that can injure the skin...
- Cover your skin with clothing such as hats, long-sleeved shirts, long skirts, or pants.
- Use sunglasses to protect your eyes.
- Try to avoid the sun at midday, when sunlight is strongest.
- Use high-quality broad-spectrum sunscreens that have an SPF rating of at least 30. Apply sunscreen at least a half hour before you go out in the sun. Reapply it often. Use sunscreen in the winter, too.
References
Habif TP. Light-related diseases and disorders of pigmentation. In: Habif TP, ed. Clinical Dermatology . 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 19.
James WD, Berger TG, Elston DM. Melanocytic nevi and neoplasms. In: James WD, Berger TG, Elston DM, eds. Andrews' Diseases of the Skin . 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 30.
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Lentigo, solar on the back - illustration
A lentigo, sometimes called an age spot or freckle, is the result of cumulative damage to the skin by sunlight. It consists of flat spots with increased pigmentation. Some spots may be fairly light, while others are darker. The edges are seldom uniform.
Lentigo, solar on the back
illustration
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Lentigo, solar with erythema on the arm - illustration
A lentigo, sometimes called an age spot or freckle, is the result of cumulative damage to the skin by sunlight. It consists of flat spots with increased pigmentation. Some spots may be fairly light, while others are darker. The edges are seldom uniform.
Lentigo, solar with erythema on the arm
illustration
-
Lentigo, solar on the back - illustration
A lentigo, sometimes called an age spot or freckle, is the result of cumulative damage to the skin by sunlight. It consists of flat spots with increased pigmentation. Some spots may be fairly light, while others are darker. The edges are seldom uniform.
Lentigo, solar on the back
illustration
-
Lentigo, solar with erythema on the arm - illustration
A lentigo, sometimes called an age spot or freckle, is the result of cumulative damage to the skin by sunlight. It consists of flat spots with increased pigmentation. Some spots may be fairly light, while others are darker. The edges are seldom uniform.
Lentigo, solar with erythema on the arm
illustration
Review Date: 10/24/2016
Reviewed By: David L. Swanson, MD, Vice Chair of Medical Dermatology, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Mayo Medical School, Scottsdale, AZ. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
