As you get older, you might notice spots on your skin that are darker than your natural skin color. These spots are especially common on sun-exposed areas like your face and the backs of your hands.
Multiple spots are called lentigines. The condition got its name because the spots can resemble lentils in color. They’re also called liver spots or age spots.
A lentigo can grow very slowly over many years, or it can appear suddenly. They may he rounded or uneven edges. Lentigines can appear in different areas of your body, depending on their cause. Some types of lentigo can disappear on their own over time, but most don’t go away. Other types can only be removed with treatment.
Although lentigo spots are often caused by sun damage to your skin, they’re not cancerous or harmful and don’t require treatment. Some people choose to he lentigines removed because they dislike how they look on their skin. This is a cosmetic choice and not a medical choice.
Lentigo symptomsLentigo doesn’t cause any symptoms other than the spots themselves. They’re not itchy or painful. They won’t cause irritation on your skin.
How to identify lentigoLentigo can look like other dangerous skin conditions. This includes melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and other skin cancers. We’ve included a gallery below to highlight the difference between lentigo and skin cancer. It may help to know that as a rule, lentigo spots are flat and evenly colored.
Skin cancer tends to produce spots that are raised, painful, itchy, grow rapidly, he uneven borders, and he multiple colors. If you he a spot or mole with any of those characteristics, it’s always best to see a doctor as soon as possible.