What are age spots?
Age spots are collections of skin-colored pigment, also known as melanin. Aging spots are generally caused by exposure to the sun. Such spots on the skin are known by a variety of other names, including skin spots, sun spots, or brown spots. Age spots are also called liver spots or solar (or senile) lentigos (“lentogos” is the medical term for liver spots). The term liver spots used frequently to describe age spots, one reason being because they resemble the color of a liver.
Darkened or discolored spots on the skin can be mistaken and ignored as for cancerous spots, thus it is very important not to confuse the two. Always seek a professional medical diagnosis if you have any questions about an unusual looking spot on your skin.
Where do age spots develop?
In addition to developing on people’s faces, they can also develop on the back of hands, the forearms, the neck, chest, and shoulders – pretty much any area of the skin that is exposed to the sun.
What do age spots look like?
Age spots generally appear as patches, freckles, blemishes or discolorations in various shades of light to dark brown, yellow, red, to almost black in color.
Aging spots are typically flat, about the size of a small pea to a dime. They are most often somewhat round in shape, characterized by irregular borders. They are easily noticed, which is why many people feel uneasy and self-conscious as age spots begin to develop over time.
The brown color of the spots may be due to hyper pigmentation of the melanin, which is responsible for skin color.
When do age spots begin to develop?
Age spots neither have anything to do with how old you are though they are more common with older people.
Although people of any age can develop age spots, generally they become more common for people in their 40s and 50s.
The spots most commonly develop in people of middle age and older. They are more common in people who have spent a lot of time in the sun.
After moving to a hotter climate I seem to have developed a few unattractive flat brown spots on my face which I'm assuming are liver or age spots (too big to be freckles).
Do only certain people get age spots?
No. Age spots on face are dark spots, usually brown in color that can be seen in people of all ages.
Age spots are more common among fair skinned people.
Though they are most commonly seen in people who are above the age of forty, age does not have much connection to the occurrence of age spots. One reason for age spots to occur in old age is because aged people's skin is exposed to the sun's rays for a longer period of time. However, even young people can be affected by this problem of age spots. Although age spots can be seen on the areas like neck, back of the hands (areas that are more exposed to the sun), they are most commonly seen on the face.
What causes age spots?
Age spots are usually found on areas of the body consistently exposed to sunlight, such as the face.
Medical and scientific research show that skin spots develop due to one of two medical origins. More often, age spots are a sign of skin damage caused by over exposure to the sun. According to Robert E. Clark, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Dermatologic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology Unit at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, “age spots are really sun-induced freckles.” (Reference: http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/16/3.cfm) Dr. Clark also notes, “(age spots) are benign and they do not go on to become any type of skin cancer or premalignant skin lesion."
Age spots typically increase with age and with more exposure to the sun. They are more common in people who freckle and who burn easily. It is important to know that if you've had enough exposure to the sun to develop age spots, you have a higher risk of developing skin cancer.
Even a little bit of sun worshipping can cause age spots later in life. Ultraviolet light (the light rays from the sun) accelerates the production of melanin, which is the dark pigment in the epidermis that gives your skin its normal color. Age spots develop when the extra melanin becomes clumped or is produced in higher concentrations than what is normal.
Age spots develop due to ultraviolet rays in sunlight. When skin is exposed to excessive amounts of ultraviolet rays, suntans and ultimately sunburn occur. While exposure to some amount of sunlight is important for most people, as time goes by overexposure to the sun causes increased levels of pigment (melanin) deposited in the skin cells (known as melanocytes). This increase in pigment results in flat, discolored skin lesions.
When we stay out in the sun, its UV rays increase the production of melanin inside our skin. Melanin is the pigment that determines how dark our skin is going to be. More melanin means a darker skin and a small quantity makes for a light colored skin. When skin is exposed to too much sun, increased production of melanin by the skin is done in an effort to protect itself from the over exposure to the sun.
The sun damages the melanocytes (cells in the skin's surface layer) that produce melanin pigment and transfer this pigment to other skin cells to help to protect us against the sun's UV rays. Totally these melanocytes form only 5-10% of the cells in skin's surface layer (epidermis).
Melanin – pigments within the epidermis, or top skin layer cells - is an insoluble pigment that gives color to your skin, hair and iris. It is formed by metabolizing and acid called tyrosine. In actual fact, it is formed by cells called melanocytes. Those darker skinned-type people will tends to generate more melanin than those who are of fairer skinned-type. And when your body creates excessive melanin that is not absorbed by the skin, you will experience brown blemishes on your face or body known as age spots.
Some individuals are genetically inclined to developing age spots. Young people who have relatives with age spots tend to have these dark patches on their skin later in life.
A more mottled complexion (a.k.a. hyperpigmentation) is usually payback for years of sun-drenched vacations and not using suntan lotion with high enough SPF. All that UV exposure throws dark-pigment-producing melanocyte cells into overdrive, and the melanin they make clusters into brown spots.
So, sun exposure is one cause of age spots. Age, in and of itself, has nothing to do with the development of these types of skin spots. Read on about the other potential cause of skin spots.
Are all age spots caused by the sun?
No. Formerly it was incorrecty believed that liver spots were due to liver problems.
Spots on the skin can be a sign of a more serious medical condition, as they could be caused by nutritional/dietary deficiencies or impaired liver function. Dietary and/or nutritional deficiencies can cause increased oxidation, and a lack of antioxidants in one’s diet can increase the development of age spots.
In cases of impaired liver function, aging causes changes in the body’s metabolism resulting in the liver becoming overwhelmed with toxins. A liver functioning properly will aid the body in ridding of toxins. However, according to medical research if the liver cannot rid the body of toxins skin spots (also known as liver spots) can develop.
(For example, as we age, our metabolism changes and the liver can become overwhelmed with toxins. If the liver cannot rid the body of these toxins, age spots (liver spots) can begin to develop. Oxidation within the body and a lack of antioxidants in your diet can also play an important role in the development of age spots.)
How do age spots affect people?
Most people hate it when they see age spots on their face every time they look at themselves in the mirror. For many people removing those ugly pigments becomes an important task on their to-do-list.
Together with other aging symptoms such as wrinkles, fine lines and under eye bags, removing age spots requires you to know what is right for your skin.
Age spots most especially on the face are very unpleasant and always have been a cosmetic issue, especially among women. Aging spots can also greatly affect people’s self confidence, most often in a negative way.
Larger, more noticeable sun spots can lower and negatively affected one’s self esteem. Although aging spots on the face and other parts of the body do not necessarily have anything to do with how old one is, they are much more common in older people; such skin spots produce uneven skin tones which are one indication of a person looking older.
Spots on the face, neck and hands are generally harmless (though people overexposed to the sun have a higher risk of developing skin cancer). They are more often a cosmetic annoyance. Spots from aging on your face, neck, hands or other body parts, along with increasing wrinkles, fine lines, and bags underneath the eyes should tell a person it’s time to begin taking better care of skin and body.
Having those dark spots on the face can be frustrating for anyone. This is because age spots distort the appearance of the face and make the person look older.
Are age spots harmful?
These age spots are usually not serious, but instead are mainly an annoyance since they can reveal a person's age. However, if you have irregular, dark spots that increase in size or change color/texture, have them checked by a doctor since they could be a sign of skin cancer.
Though age spots on face are usually harmless and do not cause any pain or physical discomfort, they are a cosmetic annoyance.
