Liver Spots Overview
Learn About Liver Spots
Liver spots are flat, brown or black spots that can appear on areas of the skin that are exposed to the sun. They have nothing to do with the liver or liver function.
Sun-induced skin changes - liver spots; Senile or solar lentigo or lentigines; Skin spots - aging; Age spots
Liver spots are changes in skin color that occur in older skin. The coloring may be due to aging, exposure to the sun or other sources of ultraviolet light, or causes that are not known.
Liver spots are very common after age 50. They occur most often on areas that have had the greatest sun exposure, such as the:
- Backs of the hands
- Face
- Forearms
- Forehead
- Shoulders
Liver spots appear as a patch or area of skin color change that is:
- Flat
- Light brown to black
- Painless
Most of the time, no treatment is needed. Talk to your provider about using bleaching lotions or creams. Most bleaching products use hydroquinone. This medicine is thought to be safe in the form used to lighten darkened skin areas. However, hydroquinone can cause blisters or skin reactions in sensitive people.
Talk to your provider about other treatment options, including:
- Freezing (cryotherapy)
- Laser treatment
- Intense pulsed light
Vasanop Vachiramon practices in Ratchathewi, Thailand. Vachiramon and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Liver Spots. Their top areas of expertise are Melasma, Liver Spots, Hypomelanotic Disorder, and Vitiligo.
Takaaki Yamada practices in Toyoake, Japan. Yamada and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Liver Spots. Their top areas of expertise are Liver Spots, Melasma, Ventricular Fibrillation, and Mediastinal Tumor.
Yusuke Hara practices in Yokohama, Japan. Mr. Hara and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Liver Spots. His top areas of expertise are Liver Spots, Melasma, and Vitrectomy.
Liver spots are not dangerous to your health. They are permanent skin changes that affect how your skin looks.
Contact your provider if:
- You have liver spots and want them removed
- You develop any new symptoms, especially changes in the appearance of a liver spot
Protect your skin from the sun by taking the following steps:
- Cover your skin with clothing such as hats, long-sleeved shirts, long skirts, or pants.
- Try to avoid the sun at midday, when sunlight is strongest.
- Use sunglasses to protect your eyes.
- Use high-quality broad-spectrum sunscreens that have an SPF rating of at least 30. Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before you go out in the sun. Reapply it often. Also use sunscreen on cloudy days and in the winter.
Summary: The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy, cosmetic acceptability and improvement of the stigmatization of the tested product (2039125 03) used bis in die (BID) for 3 months in adult patients suffering from mild to moderate melasma, or mild to moderate acne induced post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or solar lentigo.
Summary: The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy, cosmetic acceptability and improvement of the stigmatization of the tested product (2039125 03) used bis in die (BID) for 3 months in adult patients suffering from mild to moderate melasma, or mild to moderate acne induced post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or solar lentigo.
Published Date: October 13, 2024
Published By: Ramin Fathi, MD, FAAD, Director, Phoenix Surgical Dermatology Group, Phoenix, AZ. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM. Melanocytic nevi and neoplasms. In: James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM, eds. Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 30.
Wiesner T, Barnhill RL. Benign melanocytic neoplasms and melanotic lesions. In: Bolognia JL, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L, eds. Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 112.