As you age, your skin changes. Sometime during middle age, you may develop brown liver spots on the exposed areas of your skin, such as your face, chest, back, arms, hands and legs. Although liver spots are unsightly, they are basically harmless. However, some harmful skin cancers can resemble liver spots, so it's important to keep an eye out for any changes in size and darkness of any lesions, or marks, you find on your skin. Liver spots and skin cancers are caused by excessive exposure to the sun, so limit your exposure to UV sunlight and wear sunscreen whenever possible.
Liver Spots
Liver spots, which are also called lentigines and age spots, typically appear during middle age, especially if you have fair skin. They are flat skin lesions that resemble larger, darker freckles, but they don't fade away in the winter. Liver spots are clumps of darkened skin cells. They result from years of exposure to damaging UV sunlight, which causes increased production of the skin pigment melanin. Overuse of tanning beds and tanning lamps also increases your risk of developing liver spots. Liver spots don't require treatment, but report changes in the size or color of any skin lesion to your dermatologist immediately.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, and according to the American Academy of Dermatology, basal cell carcinoma is the most common kind of skin cancer. It usually results from overexposure to sunlight, occurring on your scalp, face, neck, arms and hands. However, it can also appear on unexposed areas of skin, such as your genitals. Unlike liver spots, basal cell carcinoma is a slow-growing skin cancer that is reddish in appearance and often resembles a sore that won't heal. It occurs in many shapes and sizes and can be found growing singly or in groups. If you spend a lot of time in the sun, have your dermatologist check you regularly for skin cancer.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Another common skin cancer is squamous cell carcinoma, which also occurs from overexposure to UV sunlight. It appears on exposed skin surfaces, such as the tip of your ear or nose, as well as inside your mouth or on your lips. However, squamous cell carcinoma can also grow on skin that has been severely burned from radiation or chemicals. It varies in appearance from a reddish patch to a pearl-sized, scaly bump that bleeds, heals and then returns. Unlike liver spots, squamous cell carcinoma requires removal via biopsy or other methods because it can grow deep into your skin and spread.
Melanoma
Melanoma is a very serious skin cancer that affects pigment cells in your skin called melanocytes. It can grow on unaffected skin or within a pre-existing mole. Melanoma differs from liver spots, often resembling a dark brown or black mole with irregular borders. However, it can also be variegated in color. Although it's not the only cause, excessive exposure to UV sunlight increases your risk for melanoma. The American Cancer Society states melanoma is curable if caught early but is responsible for the most deaths from skin cancer. Consult your dermatologist immediately if you notice changes to any of your moles.
References
- American Academy of Dermatology; Pigmented Lesions -- Ephelides, Lentigines, Melanocytic Nevi and Melanomas; McLean J. Stith and John C. Maize; 2011
- Mayo Clinic; Age Spots; February 2011
- American Cancer Society: Skin Cancer Facts
- American Academy of Dermatologists: Skin Cancer: Signs and Symptoms
- Mayo Clinic; Skin Cancer; August 2010
