Solar lentigo (liver spots) are common, flat brown spots that occur on parts of the body that have been exposed to excessive sun. They are benign and not associated with the liver, despite its name.

Usually these spots appear on people older than 40 but they may appear on people in their 30s if they’ve had excessive sunlight exposure. They are generally variegated in color from light to dark brown, round or oval  with slightly irregular borders.

Treatment is strictly for cosmetic reasons and can include cryotherapy or bleaching creams.

Because they can be similar in appearance to malignant melanoma, they should be checked out if you have any concerns – especially if the borders become irregular.

To find out more, follow this link to the National Institutes of Health on liver spots.