You look at the back of your hand, your neck or even your leg...and you notice something. A spot you've never seen before. Could it be skin cancer? Or is it just a harmless age spot?
It’s important to understand the difference. Both age spots and skin cancer can cause skin discoloration. But while age spots are common and usually harmless, skin cancer needs care right away. Knowing what to look for can help you protect your health and your skin.
What are age spots?
Age spots — also called liver spots, sun spots or solar lentigines – are spots that usually show up on parts of your body that get the most sun, like your face, hands, shoulders and arms. They are often:
- Flat and smooth
- Round or oval-shaped
- Brown, gray or black
- Smaller than the size of a pencil eraser
“These spots are harmless and typically develop with age, especially after age 40. Younger people can get them too with frequent sun exposure,” said Nathan Papadeas, PA, a specialist in dermatology with Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center.
What causes age spots?
UV radiation from the sun or tanning beds is the main cause of age spots. “Aging and genetics also play a role,” Papadeas said.
You’re more likely to get them if you:
- Have light skin
- Are over age 40
- Have spent a lot of time in the sun or have had a lot of sunburns
What is skin cancer?
“Skin cancer happens when abnormal cells grow out of control in the skin,” Papadeas said. It's the most common type of cancer in the U.S.
“The three main types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Melanoma is the most serious and could be life-threatening if it’s not detected early,” Papadeas said.
Unlike harmless age spots, skin cancer spots may look irregular, grow quickly or change over time.
What are the risk factors for skin cancer?
You're at higher risk for skin cancer if you have:
- Fair skin or light eyes
- A history of severe sunburns, a lot of sun exposure or using tanning beds frequently
- A family member who has or had skin cancer
How can you tell the difference between age spots and skin cancer?
It can be hard to know for sure what kind of spot you're looking at. Here are some things to consider:
Age spots may:
- Be all one color
- Be smooth and flat
- Be round or oval shaped
- Not change much over time — change usually takes years
- Usually be smaller than a pencil eraser
- Be itchy, but the itchiness usually goes away
Skin cancer spots may:
- Be larger than a pencil eraser
- Have uneven or blurry edges
- Be more than one color
- Itch, bleed, hurt or ooze
- Feel rough or scaly
- Change in size, shape or color over time
Check for signs of melanoma with the ABCDE rule when you’re examining a suspicious spot:
- A: Asymmetry: One half doesn’t match the other
- B: Border: Edges are irregular or blurred
- C: Color: More than one
- D: Diameter: Larger than about a quarter of an inch, or the size of a pencil eraser
- E: Evolving: Changing in size, shape or symptoms
Don’t expect the location of the spot to give you any clues about whether it’s an age spot or skin cancer. Both age spots and skin cancer can appear anywhere on the body.
And your age isn’t all that helpful either. If you’re 30 or older, you could develop age spots. However, people with a certain genetic component can develop them as early as age 2. The link between age and skin cancer is tricky: Basal and squamous cell skin cancers are more common in older people, while melanomas occur in people of all ages.
“If you're concerned about skin cancer, take a photo of the area. This way you can watch for new or changing spots on your skin. This is especially useful for ones that don’t heal or that bleed, itch or grow over time. Pay close attention to any changes, especially in size, shape or color. Rough, scaly patches or persistent sores are also warning signs. If you notice anything unusual, it's best to see a health care provider promptly,” Papadeas said.
How can you protect your skin against skin cancer?
You can help prevent both age spots and skin cancer by protecting your skin from the sun every day.
- Use sunscreen: Choose a sunscreen and lip balm with an SPF 30 or higher, even on cloudy days.
- Wear protection: Hats, sunglasses and long sleeves can keep the sun’s UV rays off your skin.
- Limit exposure: Stay in shade, especially from 10 am to 4 pm.
- Avoid tanning beds: Exposure to any type of UV light increases your risk.
Check your skin regularly for new or changing spots. A health care provider can examine your skin with a dermatoscope, which is a tool that gives them a close-up view to help figure out whether a spot is skin cancer.
How can age spots and skin cancer be treated?
Most age spots don’t need to be treated. But if you don’t like how they look, these options may help make them lighter:
- For gradual fading: Dermatologist-prescribed topical lighteners like hydroquinone, retinoids or vitamin C
- For faster results: In-office procedures like laser therapy, cryotherapy or chemical peels
"Skin cancers can be treated through various methods depending on the type and stage," Papadeas said.
Common treatments include:
- Topical treatments like creams, radiation therapy or immunotherapy to target cancer cells
- Surgery to remove the tumor
- Mohs surgery for skin cancers that need to be removed precisely
- Cryotherapy to freeze and destroy abnormal cells
- Lasers to remove cancer cells
- Radiation, chemotherapy or immunotherapy, depending on the type of skin cancer
The bottom line on age spots and skin cancer
Age spots and skin cancer can have a lot of similarities, so it can be tough to tell on your own if a spot is something you should be concerned about. “It’s not always easy to tell if a new spot is harmless or something more serious. If you’re concerned, have it checked out,” Papadeas said.
Talk to your health care provider or dermatologist for guidance or consult an expert at Banner Health.