Age Spots and Sun Spots: What Causes Them and How They Are Treated

Age spots are flat, brown to black marks that appear on skin that has had years of sun, most often the face, hands and forearms. They are also called sun spots, liver spots or solar lentigines. They are harmless and do not need treatment. If you want them lighter, the options are a prescription cream, freezing, laser or light treatment, or a chemical peel. Any spot that changes or looks unusual should be checked first.

This guide explains what age spots are, what causes them, when to have one looked at, and how they are treated.

What are age spots?

MedlinePlus, from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, describes them as flat, light brown to black, painless areas of colour change on skin that is exposed to the sun. The old name “liver spots” is misleading: they have nothing to do with the liver.

The National Institute on Aging adds that age spots are bigger than freckles and commonly show up on the face, hands, arms, back and feet. MedlinePlus notes that they are very common after the age of 50.

What causes them?

MedlinePlus gives three causes: ageing, exposure to the sun or other sources of ultraviolet light, and causes that are not known. The spots appear most often where the skin has had the greatest sun exposure, such as the backs of the hands, the face, the forearms, the forehead and the shoulders.

Other kinds of dark spot

Not every dark mark is an age spot, and the cause changes the treatment.

• Marks left after a spot or injury. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) explains that people with medium to dark skin tones often get dark spots when a pimple clears or a wound heals. This is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. See our guide to dark spots on melanin-rich skin.
• Melasma. A separate cause of dark patches, with its own treatment. See our melasma page.

When to have a spot checked

Age spots are not dangerous. A provider usually recognises them by how the skin looks. MedlinePlus notes that a skin biopsy may be needed if a spot looks irregular or unusual, to check for a skin cancer called melanoma.

The AAD advises seeing a dermatologist straight away if a pigmented spot shows any of the ABCDEs of melanoma:

• Asymmetry: one half is unlike the other;
• Border: irregular, scalloped or poorly defined;
• Color: varies from one area to the next;
• Diameter: usually larger than 6 millimetres, though melanomas can be smaller;
• Evolving: looks different from the rest, or is changing in size, shape or colour.

Have any new, changing, itching or bleeding spot examined before thinking about cosmetic treatment.

How age spots are treated

MedlinePlus says that most of the time no treatment is needed. Age spots are permanent, so they will not fade on their own, but treating them is a matter of preference.

We did not find figures from these sources on how many sessions each option takes or how long results last for age spots, so we have not given any. Your provider can advise for your skin.

For more on two of these, see our guides to the IPL laser facial and chemical peels.

If you have a darker skin tone

Published reports describe burns and lasting pigment changes after IPL on darker skin, as our IPL guide explains. For chemical peels, the AAD says people with skin of color should see someone with expertise in treating darker skin tones. Ask how much experience your provider has with skin like yours.

Creams to avoid

Be careful with skin lightening creams bought without a prescription. The FDA states that there are no FDA-approved or legally marketed over-the-counter skin lightening products, and it advises consumers not to use them.

Its laboratory testing has found high levels of mercury in some of these products, which can cause kidney and nerve damage. It has also received reports of rashes, facial swelling and skin discoloration, which may be permanent, from products containing hydroquinone. The FDA recommends talking to your doctor about treatment for aged or dark spots.

The AAD adds that steroids and mercury have been found, unlisted, in skin care products imported from other countries, and that liquid bleach should never be applied to the skin.

How to prevent more

MedlinePlus recommends:

• covering your skin with clothing, including a hat and long sleeves;
• avoiding the sun at midday, when it is strongest;
• using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, applied 30 minutes before going out and reapplied often;
• using sunscreen on cloudy days and in winter too.

The National Institute on Aging says a hat and a broad-spectrum sunscreen can help prevent more age spots from forming.

Frequently asked questions

Are age spots the same as liver spots and sun spots?

Yes. MedlinePlus lists age spots and liver spots as names for the same thing, with the medical term solar lentigo. “Sun spots” is the everyday name.

Do they go away on their own?

No. MedlinePlus describes them as permanent skin changes.

Are they a sign of skin cancer?

No, they are harmless. But a spot that is irregular, changing, itching or bleeding needs to be examined, because melanoma can look like a dark spot.

Next step

You can read about hyperpigmentation at Beauté Medical Aesthetics, or book a consultation to have your skin assessed and the options explained.

Sources

1. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Liver spots. Reviewed October 13, 2024.
2. National Institute on Aging. Skin Care and Aging.
3. American Academy of Dermatology. What to look for: ABCDEs of melanoma.
4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Warns Consumers of Skin Products Containing Mercury and/or Hydroquinone. Content current as of August 24, 2026.
5. American Academy of Dermatology. How to fade dark spots in darker skin tones.
6. American Academy of Dermatology. Chemical peels: Overview.
7. American Academy of Dermatology. Chemical peels: FAQs.

Kalato Holts

Double Board Certified Nurse Practitioner

Beauté Medical Aesthetics