Do you have age spots as well?
As you’re getting older, your appearance starts to change. You get wrinkles, gravity starts to take its toll on certain parts of your body, and dark spots appear on your skin. Those spots are called age spots, or liver spots. They can appear on your face, on your legs, arms, shoulders, hands: anywhere on your body, really.
Hyperpigmentation
This is common affliction in which an overproduction of melanin (a natural pigment inside the skin) causes dark spots and an uneven complexion. The spots aren’t dangerous, although it is important to keep an eye on them. Consult your GP when:
Some spots are getting darker than others
A dark circle appears around one (or more) of the spots
They keep growing or start to get a reddish color
What causes age spots?
Age spots typically happen due to an excess production of melanin, or skin pigment. Experts don’t know exactly why age spots develop, but some people do have a hereditary predisposition to them. In other words, you may have a higher chance of age spots if they run in your family.
Other possible causes include skin aging, ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, such as tanning beds, and sun exposure. That’s why you’re most likely to develop age spots on areas of your skin that receive the most sun, such as:
your face
the backs of your hands
your shoulders
your upper back
your forearms
Who is at risk for age spots?
While anyone can develop age spots, they tend to show up more commonly in people with certain risk factors. These include:
being older than 40 years old
having fair skin
having a history of frequent sun exposure
having a history of frequent tanning bed use
What are the symptoms of age spots?
The main symptoms that characterize age spots include:
Color. Age spots range from light brown to black in color. They may darken after time in the sun.
Texture. The spots have the same texture as the rest of your skin. They typically appear on sun-exposed areas. They’re flat to the touch and don’t cause any pain.
Size. Age spots can vary from the size of a very small freckle to an inch in diameter.
Grouping. They may appear on their own or in a group, which can make them more noticeable.
Shape. Age spots are typically round or oval, with very defined edges.
How are age spots diagnosed?
A dermatologist or healthcare professional will usually diagnose age spots with a visual inspection, a biopsy, or both.
Visual inspection
During a visual inspection, your doctor will assess the color, size, and shape to determine whether your mark really is an age spot.
They might also feel the spot to determine whether it has a raised texture or the same texture as your surrounding skin.
Biopsy
If your doctor or dermatologists believes the dark area may be something other than an age spot, they’ll typically suggest a biopsy.
This procedure involves removing a small piece of skin from the age spot and sending it to a lab to test for cancer or other abnormalities.
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