What are the brown spots on my arm?

Age spots are small, flat dark areas on the skin. They vary in size and usually appear on areas exposed to the sun, such as the face, hands, shoulders and arms. Age spots are also called sunspots, liver spots and solar lentigines.

Why are brown spots appearing on my arms?

Age spots, which are sometimes called liver spots or solar lentigines, happen after exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, says dermatologist Amy Kassouf, MD. They can be tan, brown or black, vary in size and usually appear on the areas most exposed to the sun such as the face, hands, shoulders and arms.

How do you get rid of brown spots on your arms?

Treatment

1. Medications. Applying prescription bleaching creams (hydroquinone) alone or with retinoids (tretinoin) and a mild steroid might gradually fade the spots over several months. ...
2. Laser and intense pulsed light. ...
3. Freezing (cryotherapy). ...
4. Dermabrasion. ...
5. Microdermabrasion. ...
6. Chemical peel.

What disease causes brown spots on skin?

Melasma. This is a common skin condition that usually affects facial skin and causes brown patches. It affects women more often than men. Triggers of melasma can include sun exposure and hormonal changes.

When should I be worried about brown spots on my skin?

If you have dark spots on your face or other parts of your body that have been exposed to the sun, they may be age spots. You should see your doctor to confirm that they are not cancerous lesions, especially if you are older or you have a history of sun exposure or sunburn.

What Are the Causes of Skin Discoloration or Liver Spots? : Health Care Answers

What do liver spots look like on your arms?

Liver spots may: Appear on your face, hands, neck or arms. Be dark brown or tan. Group in one spot, similar to a patch of freckles.

What do cancerous brown spots look like?

The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred. The color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black, sometimes with patches of pink, red, white, or blue. The spot is larger than ¼ inch across – about the size of a pencil eraser – although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this.

What causes liver spots on your arms?

Age spots are caused by overactive pigment cells. Ultraviolet (UV) light speeds up the production of melanin, a natural pigment that gives skin its color. On skin that has had years of sun exposure, age spots appear when melanin becomes clumped or is produced in high concentrations.

What do liver spots look like?

The condition involves the appearance of pale brown to dark brown spots on the skin called solar lentigines, liver spots, or age spots. Age spots are flat, usually oval areas of the skin that have increased pigmentation. In other words, they're darker than the surrounding skin. They may be brown, black, or gray.

Why is my skin discolored on my arm?

Some of the more common causes for changes in skin color are illness, injury, and inflammatory problems. Discolored skin patches also commonly develop in a certain part of the body due to a difference in melanin levels. Melanin is the substance that provides color to the skin and protects it from the sun.

Can age spots be cancerous?

These spots are called “actinic lentigines,” which are more commonly referred to as sun spots, age spots, or liver spots. These small, gray-brown spots aren't a type of skin cancer. They also don't progress to become skin cancer and don't require any treatment.

Can brown spots be removed?

Age Spot Procedures

If you want to get rid of dark spots fast, a procedure that removes layers of discolored skin may work better than a lightening cream. These techniques include laser treatments, freezing (cryotherapy), dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, microneedling, and chemical peels.

Do sunspots go away?

Most sunspots fade somewhat over time, but they will typically not disappear completely because the skin has been permanently damaged. There are, however, several treatments to diminish the appearance of sunspots. Bleaching creams and acid peels can make the appearance of sunspots less obvious.

What deficiency causes age spots?

It is a brown pigment that generally increases with age, and its formation is increased by consumption of unsaturated fats, by vitamin E deficiency, by stress, and by exposure to excess estrogen."

How do you get rid of liver spots naturally?

Buttermilk

Their vitamin D, vitamin B12 and lactic acid can remove the dead skin cells and lighten pigmentation. Vitamin A, vitamin B6 and biotin can boost collagen production. You can apply buttermilk or yogurt directly to the skin to fight age spots. Saturate cotton balls with the milk to make it easier to apply.

What are brown spots on skin called?

Also called sunspots, solar lentigines, or liver spots, people can develop dark spots on their skin after being exposed to the sun or tanning beds. Areas of the body that receive the most sun exposure, such as the face, hands, or arms, are most likely to develop sun spots.

What does age spots look like on your arm?

Age spots are flat brown, gray, or black spots on the skin. They usually occur on sun-exposed areas, like the backs of your hands and your face. Age spots are also called liver spots, senile lentigo, solar lentigines, or sun spots. It's not uncommon for a single age spot to appear, or for a few to cluster together.

Can age spots look like melanoma?

Some changes in your skin come with age, such as the unpopular age spots (also known as sun spots or liver spots). These have nothing to do with the liver and are caused instead by long-term sun exposure. Some of these dark spots, however, may look suspiciously like melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.

What age do liver spots appear?

Liver spots are very common after age 40. They occur most often on areas that have had the greatest sun exposure, such as the: Backs of the hands.

Do liver spots appear suddenly?

A lentigo can grow very slowly over many years, or it can appear suddenly. They may have 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.

What does liver rash look like?

People may have a reddish purple rash of tiny dots or larger splotches, caused by bleeding from small blood vessels in the skin. If the liver function has been impaired for a long time, people may itch all over, and small yellow bumps of fat can be deposited in the skin or eyelids.

What age can you get age spots?

Age spots tend to form in people aged 40 and over, though they can also develop in younger people who frequently get sunburns or use tanning beds. These spots can form on anyone's skin, though they are more common in people with lighter skin, which is more sensitive to the sun.

What does melanoma on arm look like?

Color that is uneven: Shades of black, brown, and tan may be present. Areas of white, gray, red, pink, or blue may also be seen. Diameter: There is a change in size, usually an increase. Melanomas can be tiny, but most are larger than the size of a pea (larger than 6 millimeters or about 1/4 inch).

What does Stage 1 melanoma look like?

Stage IA Melanoma: The melanoma tumor is less than 1.0 millimeter thick (less than the size of a sharpened pencil point) with or without ulceration (broken skin) when viewed under the microscope. Stage IB Melanoma: The melanoma tumor is more than 1.0 millimeter and less than 2.0 millimeters thick without ulceration.

What does early stage melanoma look like?

What to look for: Usually, the most obvious warning signs of early stage melanoma are changes to your moles or spots: in size, shape, colour or in how they look or how they feel. Melanoma can also appear as a new mole (more commonly in people aged 50 years or more)².