What Are Liver Spots on Hands?
As you age, blemishes commonly referred to as liver spots can begin to appear on the backs of your hands. Although many people have a hereditary predisposition to them, dermasurgeons are now able to safely lighten and remove these marks with excellent results.
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Names
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Liver spots are also known as lentigos and solar lentigines.
Definition
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Liver spots are rounded and sharply defined, flat patches of skin that can be black, brown, or gray in color.
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Formation
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Liver spots are formed when the epidermis, or top surface layer of the skin, expands with additional pigment and develops a large freckle. They may either appear on their own or clustered together in small groups.
Misconceptions
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Although some believe that liver spots can be a precursor to skin cancer, this is not the case. Liver spots are not cancerous, nor do they lead to cancer.
Prevention
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Avoiding excessive exposure to the sun and regularly using sunscreen can lessen the likelihood that you will develop liver spots.
Treatments
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Should you wish to have the liver spots on your hands lightened, your doctor can prescribe a bleaching cream such as hydroquinone that can either be used alone or in addition to mild steroids. If you would like to have your liver spots removed, your doctor may suggest that you have a chemical peel or dermabrasion (sanding down the surface layer of the skin) .
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