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What to do about liver spots?
Liver or age spots, also known as solar lentigines, are flat brown-black spots that commonly occur on sun-exposed areas of the body. They are not related to the liver or the functioning of the liver. These pigmentary changes are brought about by a combination of aging, sun exposure or other unknown causes. After the age of 40, liver spots are extremely common. They appear most frequently on the back of the hands, forearms, face, shoulders and other areas of the body that have been subjected to high levels of sun exposure. Although liver spots are benign, they may be bothersome from a cosmetic perspective. Talk to your doctor to get more information about fading creams, liquid nitrogen and laser treatment alternatives. Skin lightening agents (e.g., hydroquinone, azelaic acid, kojic acid, alpha hydroxyl acids, tretinoin, vitamin C) can help to reduce the appearance of liver spots. Implementing daily photoprotection through sunscreen use can minimize additional sun damage to your skin and prevent existing hyperpigmented areas, such as liver spots, from darkening even more.
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