Age spots often appear as brown spots or freckles on skin damaged by exposure to the sun. Parts of the body that receive greater sun exposure may be more prone to developing age spots.

The face, arms, chest, hands and shoulders may be at the greatest risk of developing age spots, while other parts of the body that are usually clothed and out of the sun may remain free of visible sun damage. Light skinned individuals may be at a greater risk of developing age spots.

The sun damages the cells in the skin that produce melanin, which act as protection from the sun. The sun may cause an irregular melanin pigment in light skinned individuals, which are referred to as freckles or age spots.

Suspicious age spots on the skin should always be checked by a skin care professional to guard against skin cancer. Some age spots may even appear harmless, but it is always a good idea to have annual skin checkups with a skin care professional to ensure that they are benign.

Many treatments exist that may help to reduce the appearance of age spots. Laser treatment may be effective at removing age spots. Almost any color light may be used to remove age spots, as melanin is designed to absorb light.

The best way to manage age spots may be prevention. Preventing excessive sun exposure may help to reduce the risk of age spots as well as skin cancer. Wearing mineral-based sunscreen, appropriate clothing and avoiding excessive sun exposure during the peak hours of 10 a.m. to 4p.m. may also help prevent age spots.

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