Pigmentation & Tone

Sun Spots

Sun spots, also called age spots, liver spots or solar lentigines, are flat brown patches that appear on skin that has had years of sun. They are harmless, but a few skin cancers can look similar, so new or changing spots deserve a check.

Evidence reviewedNovember 13, 2026
Medical reviewDr. Abdurrahman Efem
Practical reviewMerve Akkaya
Medical nameSolar lentigo (plural lentigines)
CauseLong-term UV exposure
Harmful?No, but look-alikes can be
Fastest fadingProcedures such as laser or freezing
Key takeaways
  • Sun spots are harmless flat brown marks caused by years of UV exposure, most often on the face, hands, arms and shoulders.
  • A spot that is new, changing, irregular, multicolored, itchy or bleeding should be checked by a dermatologist before any treatment.
  • Sun protection is essential; creams fade spots slowly and modestly, while procedures work faster but spots can return.

Overview

What are sun spots?

A sun spot is a small area where the skin has made extra pigment after years of ultraviolet (UV) light. DermNet describes solar lentigines as common, benign, flat pigmented spots on sun-exposed skin, usually in middle-aged and older adults. They are more common in fair skin and in people with a history of sunburn or sunbed use.

Unlike freckles, which tend to darken in summer and fade in winter, sun spots stay all year. They range from a few millimeters to a centimeter or more across. Their main importance is cosmetic, and as a sign that the skin has had a lot of sun.

Common signs and patterns

What sun spots usually look like

These features are typical of sun spots, but only an examination can tell a sun spot from a look-alike.

Flat, even brown color

Light tan to dark brown, with one fairly uniform shade across the spot.

Clear, regular edges

Round or oval with a well-defined border, rather than ragged or blurred.

On sun-exposed areas

Backs of the hands, forearms, face, shoulders, upper back and shins.

No symptoms

They do not itch, hurt or bleed. A spot that does deserves a check.

Causes and contributors

Sun spots are a sign of cumulative UV exposure over many years.

Repeated UV exposure, from the sun or sunbeds, leaves small areas of skin making extra melanin (brown pigment). Because the effect builds up over decades, sun spots appear mostly from middle age, on the places that get the most sun.

Fair skin, frequent sunburns and tanning raise the chance of developing them. The same UV exposure that causes sun spots also causes fine lines and raises skin cancer risk, which is why sun spots are a useful prompt to protect your skin.

What it may be confused with

Similar-looking spots need different decisions

Several brown marks can look like sun spots, and some need medical attention.

Melanoma and other skin cancers

May be asymmetrical, with an irregular border, several colors, larger than about 6 mm, or changing. Use the ABCDEs below and see a dermatologist.

Melasma

Larger, blotchy patches, often on both cheeks, the forehead and upper lip, driven by hormones as well as sun. See melasma vs sun spots.

Seborrheic keratosis

A common, harmless growth that is usually raised and waxy or “stuck on”. Some flat sun spots can develop into one over time.

Bottom line

Get the check, then protect, then fade if you want to.

Most sun spots are harmless and can be left alone. The step that matters most is making sure a spot really is a sun spot: look for the ABCDE warning signs and have any new or changing spot examined. Regular self-checks help you notice change.

If you want spots lighter, daily sun protection comes first because spots return without it. Creams fade spots slowly and modestly; procedures such as laser, IPL or freezing work faster but can leave lighter or darker marks, especially in deeper skin tones.

Evidence-supported options

Choose the option that matches your goal and skin

This is general education, not a personal treatment plan. Product strengths, permitted uses and prescription status vary by country.

Prevention

Daily sun protection

Broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher, shade and covering clothing prevent new spots and may modestly lighten existing ones.

Limit: Will not remove established spots on its own, and only works when used every day.

Evidence-supported

Topical retinoids and lightening creams

DermNet lists retinoids and bleaching agents such as hydroquinone as topical options. Over-the-counter products need daily use for weeks to months.

Limit: Results are slow and often partial; the AAD notes some people need prescription strength. Hydroquinone and retinoids are prescription-only in some countries and avoided in pregnancy.

Professional treatment

Laser and intense pulsed light (IPL)

Pigment-targeting lasers can lighten spots in one or two sessions, with longer-lasting results than creams. IPL is another light-based option.

Limit: Temporary crusting or darkening is common; pigment changes are a greater risk in darker skin. Spots can return without sun protection.

Professional treatment

Cryotherapy and chemical peels

Freezing spots (cryotherapy) is quick, and chemical peels can fade spots partly. DermNet notes that combining two or more treatments gives the highest clearance rates.

Limit: Can be painful and may blister or leave pale or dark marks, which can occasionally be permanent.

Supportive skincare

A simple routine for fading sun spots

Keep the routine gentle; irritation can cause new dark marks, especially in deeper skin tones.

Morning

  1. Gentle cleanseUse a mild cleanser and lukewarm water.
  2. Antioxidant serum (optional)A vitamin C serum can sit under sunscreen; think of it as support rather than a spot remover.
  3. Sunscreen, then reapplyBroad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher on face, neck, chest and the backs of the hands, reapplied every two hours outdoors.

Evening

  1. CleanseRemove sunscreen thoroughly but gently.
  2. One brightening treatmentUse a single fading product, such as a retinoid or a clinician-recommended lightening cream, as directed. See the hyperpigmentation routine.
  3. Moisturize and checkMoisturize, and every so often look over your skin for any new or changing spots.

Common mistakes

What can make sun spots harder to manage

  • Treating a spot at home without having it checked, especially if it is new or changing.
  • Skipping sunscreen after treatment, which lets spots return.
  • Expecting a cream to erase spots in a few weeks.
  • Using several strong exfoliants or lightening products at once, which irritates skin and can darken it.
  • Using tanning beds, which add UV damage and raise skin cancer risk.

When professional help makes sense

See a dermatologist when a spot shows any of these warning signs

  • Asymmetry or an irregular, scalloped or blurred border.
  • Several colors in one spot, such as tan, brown, black, red, white or blue.
  • Larger than about 6 mm, though melanomas can be smaller.
  • A spot that is new, looks different from your other spots, or is changing in size, shape or color.
  • A spot that itches, bleeds, crusts or does not heal.

Related reading

Continue with the next useful question

Melasma vs Sun SpotsHow to tell these two brown patches apart. HyperpigmentationThe main types of dark patches and what helps. Sun DamageWhat years of UV do to skin, and what can improve. Alpha Arbutin vs HydroquinoneTwo brightening options and their trade-offs.

Editorial record

What this page knows, and what remains uncertain

Evidence summary

Based on DermNet and American Academy of Dermatology guidance on solar lentigines, age spot treatment and melanoma warning signs.

Important limitations

Evidence for over-the-counter brightening products on sun spots is limited and results vary widely. Procedure outcomes depend on the device, the operator and your skin tone.

Financial transparency

No paid product placement or affiliate ranking is included on this foundation page.

Recommendation logic

Options run from prevention to topical care to procedures, after the essential first step of a skin check.

Editorial Record

Editorial status
reviewed
Medical reviewer
Dr. Abdurrahman Efem
Practical reviewer
Merve Akkaya
Last reviewed
November 13, 2026

Frequently asked questions

Short answers to common questions

Are sun spots dangerous?

Sun spots themselves are harmless. But some skin cancers can look similar, so a new, changing or unusual spot should be checked by a dermatologist.

What is the difference between sun spots and age spots?

They are the same thing. Age spots, liver spots and sun spots all refer to solar lentigines, which come from sun exposure rather than age itself.

Do sun spots go away on their own?

Usually not. Strict sun protection may lighten them a little, but most persist without treatment.

What is the fastest way to get rid of sun spots?

In-office treatments such as laser, IPL or cryotherapy usually work faster than creams, often in one or a few sessions. They carry more risk of side effects and spots can return.

Can vitamin C fade sun spots?

Vitamin C is a popular brightening ingredient, but evidence that it clears established sun spots is limited. Daily sunscreen and proven options are more reliable.

What are the ABCDEs of melanoma?

Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter usually over 6 mm, and Evolving (changing). Any of these is a reason to see a dermatologist.

Compare and go deeper

Side-by-side comparisons and practical guides

Skin concern

Crepey Skin

Crepey skin is thin skin whose elastic fibers have been worn down, most often by years of sun exposure.

Sources reviewed

Guidance behind this page

Sources support general editorial guidance. They do not replace regional product labels, prescribing information or personal medical assessment.

Continue exploring

Skin ConcernsReturn to the complete library. IngredientsUnderstand active and supporting ingredients before combining products. GuidesPractical how-tos for routines, sunscreen and labels. Medical DisclaimerUnderstand the limits of general skincare information.