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Liver Spots
  • How Liver Spots Form
  • Are They Dangerous
  • Best Treatments
    		•

    Liver spot is an old-fashioned synonym for age spot. At one time, people mistakenly thought liver spots—flat brown or grayish spots on the skin—were somehow associated with a "bad" liver.

    The medical term for these spots is solar lentigenes. And that term reveals their true cause: overexposure to the sun.

    How Liver Spots Form

    One of the side effects of sun damage is the creation of extra pigment (melanin) in the skin. The body makes the melanin to protect it from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Over time—and repeated exposure to the sun—enough pigment is formed to create the liver spots.

    Liver spots become more common as we grow older, typically showing up after age 40. They tend to develop on areas of the body that have received the most sun exposure, typically the back of the hands and forearms, the face, and the shoulders.

    Are Liver Spots Dangerous?

    No. These spots may be unsightly, but they are painless and pose no health risk. Still, your physician may want to biopsy ones that are shaped irregularly to make sure they’re not cancerous.

    What is the Best Treatment?

    Bleaching creams are not a good solution for liver spots, as they tend to bleach not just the spot itself, but the surrounding area of skin. That can leave you with the odd appearance of a "ring" around a lightened liver spot. Some people also have skin reactions to bleaching creams, which can cause blisters.

    Microdermabrasion treatments and chemical peels can help reduce the appearance of liver spots, but the most effective treatment for these unwanted marks on the skin is laser therapy. With lasers, you can get rid of the liver spots permanently—as long as you then protect yourself from the sun.

    Consult a Physician

    Any changes in the skin or coloration of spots should be looked at by a dermatologist as it may be a sign of skin cancer.

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    Dr. Melanie Grossman discusses liver spots
    How Did Treatment
    ChangeYOUR
    78% Life?
    of reviews werePositive
       (49 reviews)

     no pain no gain

    My doctor did the setting pretty high and it does hurt. He ...[more]
    New York, NY Jan 22, 2011

     Younger Hands in One Visit

    I decided to do something about the spots on my hands, becau...[more]
    Dallas, TX Dec 21, 2010

     A Much Needed Improvement

    I’m in my mid 50s and I’ve started to see some dark spots on...[more]
    Camarillo, CA Dec 14, 2010
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    Ask The Doctor
    Q: What is Hyperpigmentation?
    Hyperpigmentation is the darkening of skin caused by an... [Read More]
    Q: What is the Epidermis?
    Lying above the dermis is the epidermis which is entirely... [Read More]
    Q: What is the Dermis?
    The dermis is the layer of the skin underneath the... [Read More]
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