Brown spots are called lentigo or solar lentigo, and are one of the most common growths that occur on the skin. Lentigo are sometimes called brown spots, age spots or liver spots (They are completely unrelated to the liver or liver function). Lentigo are most frequently seen in adults over thirty, and they occur most commonly on sun exposed skin, face, back of hands, arms, chest and lower legs. They are typically tan or brown in color, and are generally flat.
Aging and years of sun overexposure can precipitate the appearance of unsightly brown spots. Heredity does seem to play a role as fair skinned individuals may develop them more easily. Although age is sometimes blamed for brown spots, older individuals have more cumulative sun exposure, therefore are more likely to have brown spots. Lentigo are harmless and are not related to skin cancer. Although lentigo are one of the most requested cosmetic treatments at Bellagio, removal is not medically necessary.
Remedies in the past for treatment were fraught with skin burning and inconsistency. Today we are fortunate to have the latest in laser technology to effectively treat and reduce these age defining blemishes. By undergoing a short series of painless and quick laser procedures we can selectively delete out these lesions. The treatment only takes a few minutes and you can expect to immediately return to your social or work schedule. We will recommend that you stay out of the sun and we may also recommend a topical cream or lotion to optimize your treatment outcome.
Brown spots are easily removed but new lentigo can form after removal. Frequent use of sunscreens and antioxidants such as Prevage may help to prevent formation of new spots.