Age spots or brown spots are small blackish brown spots on the skin. It is seen largely on the areas like face, arms and neck which are exposed to sunlight often. Brown spots are small oval shaped areas with abnormal color. The skin on such regions look tanned with brown or black color. You can find such age spots on your hands, face, shoulders, neck and top of feet. The size of such spots range from 5-13 mm in size and sometimes they join together to get noticed easily.
Causes Of Brown Spots On Skin :
Several causes like exposure to harsh rays of sunlight, aging, and usage of tanning beds can cause such brown spots on the skin. Aging can cause brown spots on skin and for many people it runs in families. The skin produces melanin pigment on exposure to ultra-violet rays of the sun which makes the affected area dark and brown in color.
In cold climatic conditions people use tanning beds and lamps frequently to escape from severe cold. Although it helps in giving comfort and warmth, it is not good for your skin. The skin loses its texture and gradually becomes dark in certain areas. Tanning beds emit UV rays and when the skin becomes repeatedly exposed to such light it can develop melanin making the skin dark and black.
- Seborrheic Keratoses :
Seborrheic keratoses are skin lesions that appear as brown spots on the skin when the person becomes aged. Often it occurs when the skin is exposed to sunlight or due to sunburn.
Risk Factors :
- Anyone can develop brown spots on skin. But it is commonly found in people who are above 45 years. Individual with fair skin are at increased risk of brown spots.
- People whose job involves exposure to sun frequently and those who use tanning beds frequently are liable to get brown spots.