What Are Age Spots and What Causes Them
Age spots, also called sun spots, liver spots, or solar lentigines, are flat, dark pigmented areas caused by prolonged sun exposure, ultraviolet (UV) damage, and skin aging. They commonly appear on the face, hands, chest, and shoulders—areas most exposed to the sun’s rays where melanin-producing cells have increased activity. Age spots develop mainly from chronic sun exposure, ultraviolet protection factor (UV) deficiency, aging, genetics, hormones, and skin irritation. Severe sunburns and cumulative UV damage can increase melanin production, leading to darker patches. Because these spots develop in deeper skin layers, professional age spot treatment is often needed to effectively fade age spots.