1. Another Name for Mole
A lentigo is a mole, which is a small, elevated bump on the skin ranging in color from brown to black. Lentigines get their color from melanocytes, the cells that contribute skin color to people of all racial backgrounds. A lentigo can develop slowly over the course of many years, or it can appear suddenly. Lentigines are very common, especially in Caucasian individuals. At least 90% of Caucasian adults over the age of 60 have at least one lentigo, usually resulting from the cumulative effects of sun exposure.
2. Most Common Lentigo
The most common type of lentigines are lentigo simplex, also known as simple lentigo. These pigmented areas often arise early in life and aren't associated with sun exposure. This type of lentigo can occur on any skin surface, and it can even appear on mucous membranes, such as the inner cheek. Simple lentigines are round or oval, and they're usually smaller than 15 mm in diameter, which is slightly smaller than 1/2 an inch. The color of simple lentigines is usually an even shade of brown or black.
3. Liver Spots
Young people may associate liver spots with old age, but the scientific name for a liver spot is a solar lentigo. As the name insinuates, solar lentigines are associated with exposure to the sun. These brownish patches often appear on areas subjected to a lifetime of sun exposure, including the face, arms and back of the hands. The spots can start out very small, but over time they grow, and can even merge to form large patches. Older lesions can also darken in color, changing from yellowish-brown to dark brown or even black. Protecting your skin from sun exposure never seemed more appealing.
4. Tanning Bed Troubles
The rise of lentigines associated with tanning bed use created a new category of these pigmented lesions: tanning bed lentigines. Not surprisingly, these lentigines occur mostly in women who love to fake-bake. It doesn't matter if you're a tanning bed frequent flier or if you only visit to prepare for your annual beach trip, as these lentigines can develop after short intense tanning sessions or after a year or more of use. Like liver spots, tanning bed lentigines can enlarge until they merge into large patchy areas of dark brown. Perhaps a bit of bronzer can bridge the pale divide between lesions to create the tanned appearance the tanning bed user had been seeking.
5. Deadly Changes
Lentigo maligna refers to a subtype of invasive melanoma, a highly aggressive skin cancer that begins in the melanocytes that give lentigines their characteristic color. Although a non-cancerous lentigo can grow over time, a cancerous lentigo can spread beneath the skin into the lymphatic system to other organs of the body. Lentigo maligna is associated with a rich history of sun exposure, and accounts for approximately 10% of melanoma cases. Patients must see a doctor for evaluation if a lentigo changes its size, shape or color.
