How to remove age spots on hands

Sun spots, also called solar lentigines, are flat brown or grey-brown marks that often develop on repeatedly exposed skin. They can sit among broader signs of sun-damaged skin and may look like other dark patches. A clinician should examine any spot that is new, changing, irregular, itchy, painful, bleeding, or different from the others before cosmetic treatment.

The colour comes from increased pigment activity after ultraviolet exposure. Freckles, post-inflammatory marks, and some skin cancers can look similar, so visual assessment matters more than the label age spot.

Use broad-spectrum sunscreen on the backs of the hands, reapply after washing or prolonged outdoor exposure, and consider gloves or shade when practical. Gentle cleansing and regular moisturising can reduce irritation that makes uneven tone more noticeable; avoid picking or harsh scrubbing.

After assessment, a dermatologist may discuss a chemical peel, IPL photofacial, picosecond laser treatment, or cryotherapy for selected lesions. The choice depends on pigment depth, skin tone, number of spots, and whether a biopsy is needed. Treatments can temporarily cause redness, crusting, or darker or lighter pigment, so follow aftercare closely.

Arrange a prompt skin examination for a spot that changes in size, shape, or colour, develops several shades, repeatedly crusts, bleeds, becomes tender, or fails to heal. Seek urgent care for rapidly spreading redness, marked swelling, or severe pain after a procedure.

Ask whether each mark has the typical appearance of a sun spot, whether any lesion needs dermoscopy or biopsy, which option suits your skin tone, and how to protect the treated area from pigment changes.