What Causes Age (Liver) Spots?

Age spots, also known as liver spots or sunspots, are small, flat, brownish areas on the skin that usually appear on skin areas that often exposed to the sun, such as the hands, the arms, the shoulders and the face. Age spots are usually benign and no cause for worry and they can vary in size from spots the size of a freckle to discoloration of about half an inch in diameter.

Age spots are usually caused overactive pigment cells in the skin that react to light exposure, not only to the rays of the sun, but to the light of tanning beds as well. UV light is known to trigger the production of melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color – when melanin becomes clumped in the skin, the accumulation becomes visible in the form of brownish spots.

While everyone becomes exposed to the rays of the sun, not everybody gets age spots, which means that some people are more susceptible to developing these discolorations – people who have light skin, red hair and freckles and people who expose themselves to an excessive amount of UV radiation are at higher risk. Fortunately, Downtown’s Healthcare experienced medical staff will confirm that there are many ways to prevent the appearance of the spots, wearing sunscreen, clothes that cover the arms and the legs and hat being the most efficient. It is also a good idea to avoid exposure to the sun when its rays are the strongest, between 10 AM and 2 PM.