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Liver spots - Treatment

Alternative Names

Sun-induced skin changes - liver spots; Senile or solar lentigines; Skin spots - aging; Age spots

Treatment:

No treatment is needed in most cases. You can improve the cosmetic appearance of your skin by using skin bleaching lotions or creams. Freezing (cryotherapy) or laser treatment may be recommended to destroy the liver spots.

Expectations (prognosis):

Liver spots are not medically dangerous. They are permanent skin changes that may affect the cosmetic appearance of the skin.

Complications:

Liver spots are harmless and painless, but they may affect the appearance. This can cause emotional distress.

Occasionally, liver spots may make it difficult to diagnose skin cancers.

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if:

You have liver spots and want them removed
You develop any new symptoms, particularly changes in the appearance of any liver spot

Lentigo, solar on the back

Lentigo, solar with erythema on the arm

Reviewed last on: 10/3/2008
Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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