What Causes Brown Spots or Red Spots on Skin?
Causes of Brown Spots on Skin
Sun exposure often causes brown spots, also called liver or age spots. Brown spots from sun exposure can appear on your skin at any age but are most common after middle age. You are also more likely to develop them if your family members have as well.
Other causes of brown spots include the following skin conditions:
- Birthmarks
- Freckles
- Melasma, a skin condition causing spots or patches on your face darker than your natural skin tone
Causes of Red Spots on Skin
Red spots are often caused by blood vessel abnormalities:
- Birthmarks like port wine stains
- Cherry angiomas, small, harmless red bumps on your skin
- Enlarged blood vessels just under the surface of the skin, sometimes called spider veins
- Rosacea, a chronic inflammatory skin rash, usually on your nose and cheeks
Brown spots and red spots have different causes and most are not a health concern. Skin spots can result from post-inflammatory erythema (PIE). The condition causes pink, red, or purple spots to appear following inflammation caused by these skin conditions:
- Cystic (severe) acne
- Surgical incisions (cuts)
- Sunburn
- Allergic skin reaction
Signs That a Brown Spot or Red Spot Is a Health Concern
Most red and brown spots aren’t dangerous, but take note of any changes to brown or red spots. You should consult a dermatologist if any skin spots develop the following symptoms:
- Grow larger
- Develop an irregular border
- Become mixed with black, red, pink, or dark brown pigment
- Pain or tenderness
- Itchiness
If a spot looks considerably different from other areas on your skin, you should have it checked.
What Do Harmless Brown Spots or Red Spots on Skin Look Like?
Harmless brown and red spots are usually small and level with your skin. The areas may have some texture or feel a little rough. Red spots can occur anywhere on your body, while brown spots from sun damage are most common on areas exposed to the sun:
- Arms
- Chest
- Face
- Hands
- Shoulders
Cosmetic Skin Spot Treatments
You can’t remove red spots with creams or gels. Specialty compounded bleaching creams can help lighten brown sunspots or melasma. However, these creams can cause redness, dryness, and skin irritation.
Laser treatments are the most effective way to remove red spots and brown spots on your skin. Lasers deliver varying wavelengths of light to your skin. When the light hits your skin, it’s converted to heat energy. The heat destroys abnormal blood vessels or dark areas of the skin.
Three types of nonsurgical lasers can help remove red and brown spots:
- The Vbeam® Laser works for angiomas, rosacea, red birthmarks, and spider veins. People with darker skin tones shouldn’t have treatment with a Vbeam laser as it can cause skin blistering or scarring.
- The PicoSure® Focus Laser works well for brown spots on any skin tone or texture. It also prompts your body to produce a protein called collagen, which may help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- The Fraxel® Laser helps reduce brown spots, remove sun damage, and improve skin texture. This laser is safe for all skin types.
You may need multiple treatments to achieve results regardless of the type of laser. You should expect some downtime after treatment while your skin heals. Your dermatologist will recommend a personalized plan for skin care and recovery.
How to Prevent Brown and Red Spots on Skin
Conditions that cause red spots are often hereditary, meaning you have a family history of the condition. Your red spots may also result from damaged blood vessels. Therefore, there’s no way to prevent red spots on your skin. Since sun damage usually causes brown spots, the most effective prevention is sun protection, such as wearing sunscreen, hats, and protective clothing. A sunscreen with zinc offers the best protection since it reflects the sun’s rays.
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