Lentigines (age spots) and ephelides (freckles) are frequently tan, brown or black spots that appear over time on sun exposed areas of the skin. These spots are commonly on the back of the hands, face and legs. Those who tan extensively may also have them over the shoulders, back, chest and several other areas of skin.
Markings such as lentigines are superficial accumulations of the skin pigment named melanin that have gathered within the top layer of the skin, called the epidermis.
Ephelides occur commonly in lighter skin types, particularly in people who get skin burns quickly when exposed to the sun. Lentigines typically appear later in life and can occur on all skin types.
Certain skin marks and age spots medically referred to as lentigos are often called “liver spots” or “age spots”. However, both of these terms are misnomers. While freckles do tend to appear over time, they are not in and of themselves a sign of old age. Rather, they appear on the sun-exposed areas of people who have an inherited tendency to develop them.
When excessively exposed to UV rays, whether from a tanning bed, a sun lamp or years of going out without sunscreen, vulnerable skin protects itself by producing an overabundance of melanin, producing uneven areas. Age spots or lentigos and seborrhoeic keratoses are brown patches that usually appear on the back of the hands, face and the back. This pigment is deposited as a type of response to damage, just like a scar is a response to a wound.
Even while this condition is harmless, it must not be confused with melanoma, a type of skin cancer. Lentigo impacts both genders equally. Ethnically, the majority of cases happen in skin types I-II, although lentigo has been reported in all other types on rare occasions. The lighter complexion in Caucasians increases one’s sun sensitivity and gives way for the increased risk of acquiring the condition. Individuals that suffer from the inability to tan in natural sunlight are especially at risk and should be extremely attentive about everyday ways to maintain healthy skin. Genetic factors must also be considered; people with a family history of melanoma, or potential precursors to melanoma, are more at risk to forming lentigos.
Lentigo-type freckles & Seborrheic Keratoses
Sometimes older people who have these lentigo-type freckles also have raised, brown, crusty lesions named seborrheic keratoses. Seborrheic dermatoses are also benign (not malignant) growths of the skin. Although they are most often brown, they can vary in color and range anywhere from light tan to black. The tell-tale feature of seborrheic keratoses is their waxy appearance. They seem like they have either been pasted on the skin or may be physically similar to a drop of melted brown candle wax that dropped on the skin. Seborrheic keratoses may happen in the same areas as freckles, but since they are not made by sunlight, they can also be observed on covered areas. When they first appear, the growths usually start one at a time as tiny rough bumps. Eventually, they thicken and form a rough, warty surface.
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