What should you know about red age spots?

Classic sun spots, also called solar lentigines or liver spots, are usually flat brown or tan marks on sun-exposed skin. A red or pink mark may instead relate to visible small vessels, irritation, inflammation, or a growth that needs a closer look. Sun-damaged skin can show several changes at once, including uneven tone and rough texture. Photos can help you track change, but they cannot identify a lesion reliably. Location, surface, border, colour variation, and how long the mark has been present all matter during assessment.

Arrange a skin examination for a new red mark or one that has changed. Note when it appeared, whether it bleeds or crusts, and whether it follows irritation or injury. Use broad sun protection, protective clothing, and shade to reduce further sun damage. Do not apply a peel, lightening product, or lesion treatment before diagnosis. Once a clinician confirms a benign pigment or vascular concern, options can include a chemical peel, IPL photofacial, picosecond laser treatment, or cryotherapy for lesion removal, depending on the lesion and your skin type. These treatments target different tissue features and are not interchangeable.

Seek prompt assessment if a spot changes quickly, develops an irregular border or several colours, repeatedly bleeds, forms a persistent crust, becomes painful, or fails to heal. Arrange urgent care for significant bleeding, rapidly increasing swelling, or spreading redness with fever. A red mark on the face, lips, or other frequently exposed area also deserves examination when its behaviour is new or unusual.

Is this a sun spot, a vascular mark, irritation, or another lesion? Does it need dermoscopy or sampling? Which treatment fits its diagnosis and my skin type? How should I protect the area from sun exposure?