Sun spots, also known as solar lentigines, are common skin changes that appear due to sun exposure over time. They are generally harmless, yet many individuals seek to understand and manage them.
Understanding Sun Spots
Sun spots, also called age spots, are typically flat, darkened areas on the skin. Their color can vary from light to dark brown or black. They can range in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters and may be round, oval, or have an irregular shape. These spots commonly appear on areas of the body that receive frequent sun exposure, such as the face, hands, shoulders, and arms. Sun spots are benign.
How Sun Spots Form
Sun spots develop primarily due to cumulative exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, whether from sunlight or artificial sources like tanning beds. UV radiation stimulates melanocytes, specialized skin cells that produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. In response to UV exposure, these melanocytes produce excess melanin, which can then cluster in certain areas, leading to visible dark spots. While more common in older individuals, sun spots can appear at any age with significant or repeated sun exposure.
Distinguishing Sun Spots from Other Skin Marks
Sun spots are flat and smooth to the touch, unlike some moles that can be raised. They tend to be larger than typical freckles and, unlike freckles, do not fade in the winter months. Freckles are usually small, flat, and often appear in childhood, genetically determined, and darken with sun exposure but may fade without it.
Moles are clusters of pigment-producing cells that can be flat or raised and vary in color. Most moles are harmless, but any changes in their size, shape, color, or texture warrant professional evaluation. Skin cancers, such as melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), can sometimes resemble sun spots, making professional assessment important. Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, often presents with asymmetry, irregular borders, varied color, and a diameter larger than 6 millimeters, or it may evolve in appearance.
Basal cell carcinoma often appears as a shiny, waxy bump, a scaly patch with raised edges, or a sore that bleeds or scabs and does not heal. Squamous cell carcinoma may look like a red, scaly patch or a firm nodule that can crust or bleed. If any spot on the skin changes, grows, bleeds, itches, or has an unusual appearance, it is important to have it checked by a dermatologist to rule out skin cancer.
Preventing and Managing Sun Spots
Preventing sun spots primarily involves consistent sun protection measures. Using broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher daily is important, and reapplication every two hours when outdoors is advised. Wearing protective clothing, such as hats, sunglasses, and UV-protective apparel, helps shield the skin from harmful rays. Seeking shade, especially during peak sun hours between 10 AM and 4 PM, can also reduce UV exposure.
For existing sun spots, various management options are available, typically for cosmetic purposes. Topical creams containing ingredients like hydroquinone, retinoids (such as retinol or tretinoin), vitamin C, or alpha-hydroxy acids can help lighten spots by promoting skin renewal and reducing pigment. Cosmetic procedures performed by dermatologists include chemical peels, which remove outer layers of skin to reveal new, healthier cells. Laser therapy, such as intense pulsed light (IPL) or Q-switched lasers, targets and breaks down the excess pigment in the spots. Cryotherapy, which involves freezing the spots with liquid nitrogen, is another option to destroy pigmented cells.