Age spots (lentigo) or liver spots (so named because of the color, they have nothing to do with a malfunctioning liver them) are a common, usually benign skin disorder in older people.

A lentigo is typically a uniform brown, sharply defined oval or capricious limited flat area of a few millimeters to several centimeters in size. The spots are mostly on the face and ridges seen on the hand, sometimes at the neckline.

Sometimes evil: lentigo maligna

Lentigo is usually quite benign. Sometimes, however, malignant cells develop pigment.This is called lentigo maligna (Dubreuilh or disease). In fact, lentigo maligna melanoma before the final stage, the most malignant form of skin cancer. How long lentigo maligna melanoma occurs one, is still unknown. The risk of malignant degeneration is estimated at 25 to 50%. A lentigo maligna is characterized by a simple lentigo by a fluctuating and erratic pigmentation, the pigment is no longer smooth, but there are some dark brown to almost black spots. In lentigo -spots that change or complaint must give the physician should be consulted.

How is it treated?

Because a benign lentigo does not need treatment. If you spot intrusive, it can make them with camouflage makeup making them less noticeable.
When it is desirable for cosmetic reasons to remove lentigo there are two options for treatment: highlight with liquid nitrogen or laser therapy. The advantage of laser is that the risk of scarring is very low.
In both treatments (nitrogen laser), it often happens that the lentigo eventually comes back.
lentigo maligna One should always be treated. Usually this treatment consists of surgical removal.

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