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What’s the connection between liver spots and aging?
Solar lentigines is the medical name for liver, sun or age spots. These darker areas of skin are flat brown-black spots that commonly form on sun-exposed areas of the body. They are not related to the liver or the functioning of the liver. Such pigmentary changes are brought about by a combination of aging, UV radiation and other unknown factors. After the age of 40, liver spots are extremely common. They appear most frequently on the back of the hands, forearms, face, shoulder and other areas of the body that have been subjected to higher levels of sun exposure. Although liver spots are benign, they may be bothersome from a cosmetic perspective. Ask your doctor for more information on fading creams, liquid nitrogen or laser treatment alternatives. Skin lightening agents (such as n-acetyl glucosamine, niacinamide, vitamin C, licorice extract, hydroquinone, azelaic acid, kojic acid, or alpha hydroxyl acids) can help to reduce the appearance of liver spots. To prevent or limit the formation of further skin discoloration caused by UV damage, daily sunscreen use is a must!
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