Symptoms

• Tan to brown flat spots in sun exposed areas
• May darken with sun exposure
• Typically do not cause symptoms such as itching or pain

Causes and Risk Factors

Lentigenes can occur as early as 20 years old but are more common with age. They occur more frequently in people who have a lighter skin tone, but can also occur in patients with more pigment. They occur when the sun causes melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells in the skin to produce more pigment.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Lentigenes are benign and do not require treatment. Sunscreen is recommended to prevent darkening of the lentigines, which makes them more noticeable.

Other potential treatment options for those who do not like the appearance of their lentigines include topical creams, chemical peels and laser or IPL treatments. However, it is very important to get any brown spot evaluated by a board-certified dermatologist prior to pursuing laser or IPL treatments, to confirm the spot is not concerning for a skin cancer.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do dermatologists diagnose lentigines?

A dermatologist can typically diagnose lentigines from looking at the skin. It is important to have new or enlarging brown spots examined by a dermatologist because there is a type of skin cancer which can resemble lentigenes. Your dermatologist may use a handheld device called a dermatoscope to help distinguish between these. Sometimes, a small sample of the skin, known as a skin biopsy, may be needed to confirm the spot is not a skin cancer.