As the body ages, people may notice the presence of dark age spots appearing on their faces. Also known as liver spots or solar lentigines, age spots appear on the face as irregular pigmentation ranging in size and color from a light brown to black. Although typically harmless, it's important to still have these spots examined by your doctor to ensure they are not the beginnings of something more serious, such as skin cancer. There are several reasons why you may develop age spots in your lifetime.
Sun
Unprotected exposure to the sun is one of the leading causes of age spots. In fact, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, it only takes a few minutes of time in the sun each day over your lifetime to develop age spots. These spots occur due to clumps of melanin on the skin. Melanin is the substance that gives your skin its pigment, and accounts for the darker color of the age spot. Exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun accelerates the production of melanin, which can increase your susceptibility to age spots.
Tanning Beds
Like tanning under the sun, the use of tanning beds exposes your skin to ultraviolet rays. Although this can help give your skin the look of a tan without as much exposure to UV radiation, it can still accelerate the production of melanin in age spots on the skin. It's important to note that tanning beds can also contribute to the formation of skin cancer, according to both the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Genetics
Your family history may also play a role in how susceptible your skin is to the development of age spots. If you have family members who are currently struggling with age spots, your chances of also developing age spots are higher due to possible genetic links, states the Mayo Clinic. As such, you should take precautions such as wearing sun block when spending time outdoors and avoiding tanning salons.
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