What Causes Brown Spots on the Body?
Age brings with it all kind of surprises, some of which we would prefer not to experience. If brownish blemishes are appearing on your hands, or elsewhere on your body, these spots are age spots, also known as liver spots.
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Lentigos
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As we age, and particularly if our skin has had excessive exposure to the sun over the years, lentigos or seborrhoeic keratoses may develop on our skin.
Melanin
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The body over-produces melanin, which is the pigment in our skin, when our skin is over exposed to the sun or to an artificial form of sunlight, such as a tanning bed or booth.
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Over-Production
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When over-production, or overcompensation, of melanin occurs, defined flat patches or round spots pop up on your skin, according to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. The spots will be brown or black in color.
Clusters Form
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Melanin goes into over-drive when we're in the sun because it is trying to protect the deeper layers of our skin from damage, according to Mayoclinic.com. The melanin then forms a cluster of dark skin. These brown spots have higher concentrations of melanin than do the other parts of your body.
Spots Will Grow
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Over time, the age spots grow in size and tend to group together. The outcome is that your skin looks speckled. Hands are particularly vulnerable because they are overly exposed to the sun.
Age and Genetics
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Age and genetics also play a role in whether you will develop brown spots on your skin.
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