Brown age spots on the face: what to know

Sun spots, also called age spots or liver spots, form when pigment-producing cells make and retain more melanin after repeated ultraviolet exposure. They can appear on the face, forehead, cheeks, nose and other exposed skin. A typical mark is tan to brown, flat, and clearly bordered. Several marks may sit together and create uneven skin tone. A photograph cannot reliably distinguish a harmless sun spot from every other pigmented lesion, so texture, symmetry, border and change over time matter.

Use broad-spectrum sunscreen on exposed skin, add shade or a hat, and avoid deliberately tanning the area. Do not scratch, bleach, or apply strong lightening products without advice, since irritation can deepen pigment. A dermatologist can inspect the mark with magnification and decide whether monitoring, a prescription cream, or a procedure is appropriate. Options may include chemical peel, IPL photofacial, picosecond laser treatment, or cryotherapy for a suitable lesion; treatment choice depends on diagnosis, skin tone, location and risk of post-treatment pigment change.

Arrange a prompt skin review if a spot grows, develops several colours, becomes asymmetrical, gains an irregular edge, bleeds, crusts, itches persistently, or differs from your other marks. Seek care sooner for a rapidly changing lesion or a sore that does not heal. These signs do not diagnose cancer, but they make examination more important than cosmetic treatment.

Could this be a sun spot or another pigmented lesion? Should it be photographed and monitored? Which treatment fits my skin tone, and how will you reduce irritation and sun-related darkening afterward?