What causes senile lentigo?
Lentigo is primarily caused by sun exposure. The sun’s UV radiation causes skin cells called melanocytes to produce more pigmentation in your skin. This is why people tan, burn, or freckle after spending time in the sun. Over the years, damage from UV radiation can cause pigmentation deposits in your skin.
What is another name for senile lentigines?
Overview. A solar lentigo (plural, solar lentigines), also known as a sun-induced freckle or senile lentigo, is a dark (hyperpigmented) lesion caused by natural or artificial ultraviolet (UV) light.
What does a lentigo look like?
Both look like a flat or slightly raised brown patch, similar to a freckle or age spot. They have a smooth surface and an irregular shape. While they’re usually a shade of brown, they can also be pink, red, or white.
Which does senile lentigines affect?
Senile lentigines occur on sun-exposed areas, pre- dominantly the dorsal aspects of hands, extensor fore- arms, the face, the upper chest and back of fair-skinned, elderly individuals1.
Can solar lentigo be removed?
If left untreated, solar lentigo will most likely persist indefinitely. Cryotherapy and laser surgery can destroy them, but treatment may leave a temporary or permanent white or dark mark. Cysteamine cream hyperpigmentation treatment has been used. Bleaching agents such as hydroquinone are not effective.
Is lentigo a macular lesion?
Actinic lentigo, also termed solar lentigo, senile lentigo, age spot, or liver spot, is a benign pigmented macular lesion that usually presents as multiple lesions on sun-exposed skin, primarily on the face, exterior surfaces of the forearms, and most commonly on the dorsal surfaces of the hands.
How do you get rid of lentigo maligna?
Lentigo maligna is treated with surgery. The standard and preferred treatment is surgical excision. However, various nonsurgical modalities are available to patients in whom surgical therapy is not feasible, including cryotherapy and immune response therapy with topical imiquimod.
Is lentigo maligna serious?
Lentigo maligna is not dangerous; it only becomes potentially life threatening if an invasive melanoma develops within it. Long term follow-up involves reviewing the treated area and full skin examination to identify new lesions of concern. If the lesion was invasive, regional lymph nodes should also be examined.
Do lentigines go away?
Lentigines can appear in different areas of your body, depending on their cause. Some types of lentigo can disappear on their own over time, but most don’t go away. Other types can only be removed with treatment.
What are senile lentigo or age spots?
Senile lentigo or age spots are hyperpigmented macules of skin that occur in irregular shapes, appearing most commonly in the sun-exposed areas of the skin such as on the face and back of the hands. Senile lentigo is a common component of photoaged skin and is seen most commonly after the age of 50.
What is the difference between lentigo maligna and senile lentigo?
lentigo malig´na (malignant lentigo) see lentigo maligna melanoma. senile lentigo (lentigo seni´lis,) (solar lentigo) a small smooth round brownish patch appearing on the face, neck, or back of the hands of many older people, caused by an increase in pigment; these are entirely harmless.
What is the histopathology of senile lentigo?
The histopathology of senile lentigo is discussed. An increase in the number of melanocytes was confirmed by direct counting in dopa-treated epidermis. Lesions clinically indistinguishable from senile lentigines may show only hyperpigmentation of the epidermis histologically.
What is a lentigo?
A lentigo is a pigmented flat or slightly raised lesion with a clearly defined edge. Unlike an ephelis (freckle), it does not fade in the winter months. There are several kinds of lentigo.