Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Liver spots are flat, brown-black spots that usually appear on the skin in sun-exposed areas of the body. They have nothing to do with the liver or liver function.
Alternative Names
Sun-induced skin changes - liver spots; Senile or solar lentigines; Skin spots - aging; Age spots
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Liver spots are changes in skin color that occur in older skin. The increased color may be due to aging, exposure to the sun or other forms of ultraviolet light, or other unknown causes.
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
- Face
- Forearms
- Forehead
- Shoulders
Review Date: 10/28/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of
Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of
Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director,
A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
