What does solar lentigines look like?

What does solar lentigines look like?

Solar lentigines (len-TIJ-ih-neez) are flat spots of increased pigmentation. They are usually tan, brown or dark brown and darker than freckles. Solar lentigines have oval to round shapes and vary in size. They usually appear on areas most exposed to the sun, such as the scalp, face, hands, arms and upper trunk.

How do you treat senile lentigines?

Your dermatologist might recommend one of these treatments:

1. medicines like bleaching creams containing hydroquinone or retinoids (tretinoin)
2. chemical peels.
3. skin resurfacing.
4. laser or intense pulse light therapy to destroy melanocytes.
5. freezing (cryotherapy) to destroy melanocytes.

Are senile lentigines normal?

Senile lentigo is a common component of photoaged skin and is seen most commonly after the age of 50. There are many disscusions on whether senile lentigo represents a melanoma precursor, namely lentigo maligna melanoma and, if there is a need for a regular follow up in cases of multiple lesions.

How do you stop solar lentigines?

To prevent solar lentigines, avoid exposure to sunlight in midday (10 AM to 3 PM), wear sun-protective clothing (tightly woven clothes and hats), and apply sunscreen (SPF 30 UVA and UVB block).

Are solar lentigines cancerous?

Though freckles and solar lentigines may be mistaken for malignant melanoma, they do not themselves turn into cancer, and thus are benign. However, some people find them cosmetically unappealing, especially on the face.

Should solar lentigo be removed?

How to remove solar lentigines. Age spots are harmless marks that appear on the skin due to prolonged exposure to the sun. Although the removal of age spots is not necessary, those who dislike their appearance can try a range of home and medical treatment options.

When should I worry about age spots?

The color of the lesion (or growth) is also telling. Lesions with more than one color are suspicious. The darker the lesion, the greater your concern should be. Melanomas tend to be larger in diameter than a pencil eraser.

Can age spots be raised?

A dermatologist can usually identify an age spot by looking at its color, size, and shape. Your doctor will examine your skin and feel for any raised areas. If the spot is raised rather than flat, it may be another type of benign growth called seborrheic keratosis.

What is the meaning of senile lentigo?

A solar lentigo on the face (plural, solar lentigines), also known as a sun-induced freckle or senile lentigo, is a dark (hyperpigmented) lesion caused by natural or artificial ultraviolet (UV) light. Solar lentigines may be single or multiple.

What are solar lentigos or lentigines?

Solar lentigos or lentigines are very common, especially in people over the age of 40 years. Sometimes they are also known as an “old age spot” or “senile freckle”.

What are solar lentigines and are they dangerous?

Solar lentigines are benign, but they do indicate excessive sun exposure, a risk factor for the development of skin cancer. Who’s at risk? Solar lentigines most commonly occur in older adults, particularly those who sunburn easily and fail to tan, but they may also occur in children.

What is the prognosis of solar lentigo?

Solar lentigines may become inflamed, when they are called lichenoid keratoses or lichen-planus like keratoses (due to the pattern of inflammation seen on histopathology ). Lichenoid keratoses gradually disappear. What treatments are available for solar lentigo? If left untreated, solar lentigo will most likely persist indefinitely.