Age spots on the arms: causes and next steps

They often develop where short sleeves leave the forearms exposed and may become more noticeable after repeated ultraviolet exposure. They are not caused by liver disease despite the older name “liver spots.”

A typical solar lentigo is a flat tan, brown or dark-brown patch with a reasonably clear outline. Several may occur across both forearms. Rough scaly areas, raised growths, bruiselike marks and pigmentation left by bites or dermatitis are different patterns, even when people casually call all of them age spots.

The arms receive uneven sun exposure through driving, walking and outdoor work, so one side can have more marks than the other. Asymmetry by itself does not identify the cause; the individual lesion’s surface and evolution still matter.

Cover the arms with breathable sleeves when practical and apply broad-spectrum sunscreen to uncovered skin, including before routine driving. Reapply after swimming, heavy sweating or rubbing it away. These measures help limit additional sun-related pigment but may not erase established spots.

If appearance bothers you, first have representative marks checked. Depending on the diagnosis and your skin’s response to inflammation, options may include topical products, a chemical peel, freezing, intense pulsed light or a pigment-targeting laser. Treating a broad arm area can heal differently from treating a small facial mark, so aftercare and sun avoidance should be planned in advance.

Have a clinician assess any lesion that grows, becomes uneven in shape, develops mixed colours, thickens, forms a persistent scab, bleeds or does not heal. New pain or ongoing itch also deserves attention. These features do not provide a diagnosis, but they are reasons not to self-treat.

Seek earlier review if you are immunosuppressed or have previously had skin cancer, because your clinician may recommend closer surveillance of new or changing marks.

Ask which spots are safe to treat cosmetically, whether any lesion needs closer examination or sampling, what result is realistic for your skin tone, and how you should protect the arms while healing.