SKIN CONDITIONS
Lentigines & freckles
A lentigo is a patch of darker skin, usually due to exposure to sunlight, most commonly on the face or hands.
- Also known as freckles, “age spots”, “liver spots” and solar lentigines
- Usually caused by long-term cumulative sun exposure
- Can be treated for cosmetic purposes
Lentigines (freckles, age spots) are patches of skin where more melanin (skin pigment) is produced. This is usually a reaction to sun exposure over many years, but sometimes lentigines and freckles appear in areas that haven’t been exposed to the sun. This is largely due to genetics.
What do lentigines look like?
Lentigines are usually irregular-shaped tan or brown patches on the skin, usually with well-defined edges. The surface of a lentigo can be smooth or rough. They often appear after periods of more sun exposure, for example, at the end of summer or after a holiday.
MBBS, MA (Virtual Comm), Grad Cert Hlth Info, Grad Dip Comp Inf Sci
Multiple lentigines on the back of a woman's hands
Large dark lentigo on a man's right cheek
Multiple lentigines on a woman's face
Who gets lentigines?
Lentigines are most common on fair-skinned older people but can appear at all ages and on all skin types.
Progression
Some lentigines become raised and develop into seborrhoeic keratoses (thickening of the top layer of skin). Occasionally, lentigines become inflamed and develop into lichenoid keratoses, which usually resolve and disappear without treatment.
Treatments for lentigines and freckles
Managing lentigines with a skin care routine
To keep lentigines under control, you need a regular skin care routine.
Lentigines and freckles tend to appear after long periods of sun exposure, often at relatively low intensity. Because they tend to appear on uncovered areas such as the face and backs of hands, applying sunscreen every day – even in winter – can help prevent them.
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