Why does Aging spots - should you be concerned? happen?
Last updated September 7, 2026.
**Age spots develop mainly from years of ultraviolet exposure that causes patches of increased pigment as your skin ages.** You usually notice these flat, painless brown spots on your face, hands, shoulders, or forearms. True age spots are harmless and do not mean you have liver disease. However, skin cancer can resemble an age spot, so a new or changing mark needs a clinician's assessment. Protecting your skin with sunscreen, clothing, and shade helps limit further sun damage.
What to do
- **Check for changes:** Look for spots that change size, shape, or color, using a mirror for areas you cannot easily see.
- **Get unusual spots assessed:** Schedule a clinician visit for a changing, itchy, bleeding, or persistently new mark.
- **Use sunscreen:** Apply broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher sunscreen to exposed skin and reapply according to its label.
- **Cover your skin:** Wear a hat and protective clothing, and seek shade when sunlight is strongest.
- **Check before treating:** Have a clinician identify an uncertain spot before you try products or procedures to fade it.
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