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Lentigines (age spots) and ephelides (freckles) are frequently dark, brown or black spots that show over time on sun exposed patches of the skin. These spots are normally on the back of the hands, face and legs. People who tan extensively may also have them on the shoulders, back, chest and many other patches of skin.

Markings such as lentigines are superficial collections of the skin pigment named melanin that have accumulated inside the top layer of the skin, called the epidermis.

Ephelides occur commonly in lighter skin types, particularly in people who get skin burns easily when exposed to the sun. Lentigines typically appear later in life and can develop on all skin types.

Certain skin marks and age spots medically referred to as lentigos are often called "liver spots" or "age spots". However, both of these terms are misnomers. While freckles do commonly show over time, they are not in and of themselves a sign of old age. Rather, they appear on the sun-exposed areas of those who have an inherited tendency to develop them.

When exaggeratedly exposed to UV rays, whether from a tanning bed, a sun lamp or years of going out without sunscreen, unprotected skin protects itself by secreting an overabundance of melanin, producing uneven areas. Age spots or lentigos and seborrhoeic keratoses are brown areas that usually appear on the back of the hands, face and the back. This pigment is deposited as a form of response to damage, just like a scar is a response to a wound.

Even while this condition is harmless, it must not be confused with melanoma, a form of skin cancer. Lentigo affects both sexes equally. Ethnically, the majority of cases happen in skin types I-II, but lentigo has been observed in all other types on rare occasions. The lighter complexion in Caucasians increases one's sun sensitivity and gives way for the increased risk of acquiring the condition. Individuals that suffer from the inability to tan in natural sunlight are especially at risk and should be extremely attentive about everyday ways to maintain healthy skin. Genetic factors must also be considered; people with a family history of melanoma, or potential precursors to melanoma, are more prone to forming lentigos.

Lentigo-type freckles & Seborrheic Keratoses

Sometimes older persons who acquire these lentigo-type freckles also have raised, brown, crusty lesions named seborrheic keratoses. Seborrheic dermatoses are also benign (not malignant) blemishes of the skin. Although they are usually brown, they can vary in color and range anywhere from light tan to black. The tell-tale characteristic of seborrheic keratoses is their waxy appearance. They seem like they have either been pasted on the skin or may be physically similar to a dab of melted brown candle wax that dropped on the skin. Seborrheic keratoses may happen in the same areas as freckles, but since they are not made by sunlight, they can also be found on covered areas. When they first show, the growths usually begin one at a time as tiny rough bumps. Eventually, they thicken and develop a rough, warty surface.