Solar Lentigines
A solar lentigo is a benign darkened area on the superficial layers of the skin usually occurring from over exposure to the sun and aging. The plural of this word is lentigines. Often known as liver or age spots they can appear on any areas that are frequently exposed to the sun such as face, neck, chest, hands and arms. These spots or lesions tend to increase in number as the body ages, making them common with the older population. Lentigines are more prevalent in fair skinned people and can be identified as flat with discrete borders, darker in color than the normal skin and irregularly shaped. They can range in size from 0.2- 2 centimeters.
Because these lesions are usually benign treatment is not necessary. However people tend to want them removed or lightened for cosmetic reasons. Treatments for solar lentigines include bleaching creams such as hydroquinone, chemical peels, intense pulsed light (IPL), lasers or cryotherapy. Combination therapy of both topical creams and treatments such as laser or IPL tend to give the best results for eliminating the sun spots.
Prevention of excess sun exposure by use of clothing and sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher is the best defense for solar lentigines. Lesions that change in color thickness or develop very irregular borders need to be evaluated by a dermatologist to rule out cancer.
|
