Lentigo refers to sun spots more than age spots. Avoiding them means avoiding the sun. Not so easy. Here are all our tips and explanations.

They are therefore more frequent after 40 years. Why ? Because the older we get, the more moments of sun exposure add up. But for people who expose themselves either very often, or for a very long time, or very intensely to the sun, these spots can occur well before the age of 40. And of course, if at the same time, we often expose ourselves for a long time and in areas of intense sunshine, we multiply the “risks” of seeing lentigo appearing on our body. So the term “age spots” is a misnomer. That of “sun spots” gives a better account of the mechanism which is the cause. Let us now insist on the benignity of these “lesions”.

It does not confuse lentigo:

• nor with melanoma, skin cancer that is also subject to sun exposure (at least a dermatologist with or without a dermatoscope can make a diagnosis);
• nor with moles, located anywhere on the body;
• nor with seborrheic keratosis;
• nor with Dubreuilh’s melanosis which unfortunately bears the name of lentigo malin.

Lentigo is synonymous with sun spots, or age spots. These are small brown spots, pale beige at the beginning and which darken over time, Their size is variable, on average they measure 1cm in diameter. They are round or oval, single or grouped. They are located on the areas of the skin most often exposed to the sun:

• face ;
• back of the hands;
• shoulders;
• arm ;
• more rarely on the lower limbs.

Perhaps the fashion of dress linked to each era is changing the statistics. The widespread use of jeans that cover the legs can probably explain the lower frequency of lentigo in this location. Likewise, sun exposure of areas that are usually hidden, such as the vulvar area in women, can explain the presence of lentigo in this area. It can be found on the lips, conjunctiva or mouth. These spots are more common after 40 years.

It will be understood that it is repeated or prolonged exposure to the sun which is responsible for the appearance of these so-called age spots. Ultraviolet rays (UV) cause the concentration of melanin, hence the increase in its pigmentation. Melanin is secreted excessively by melanocytes, stimulated by UV; melanocytes are responsible for the color of the skin.

To avoid stains, avoid the sun and in particular sunburn. Between 12 p.m. and 16 p.m., it is advisable to take the shade, or wear a hat, and / or use sunscreen every 2 hours.

The lighter the skin, the more prone to lentigines. But they also occur on dark or dark skin.

But it is also the sun that is at the origin of skin cancer. This is why when a small spot changes color, volume, relief or a fortiori, if it starts to bleed, it is mandatory to consult a doctor, or even a dermatologist, who at a glance or at the same time. using a dermatoscope, can make the diagnosis.

The mechanism is the same for tanning or lentigo. But when you tan, the skin gradually becomes colored and then gradually discolors as soon as exposure to the sun ceases. The appearance of spots shows that the skin can no longer bear the sun: pigmentation (melanin) accumulates in the dermis or epidermis. Some people are more prone to tanning or spots:

• outdoor sportspeople;
• road workers;
• intensive tanning enthusiasts;
• the homeless.

Freckles, called ephelids, are a little paler than lentigines, measure 1 to 5 mm, appear in childhood in people with a light phototype, especially redheads. There is none on the mucous membranes. They darken in the sun. They have a genetic origin and the mode of transmission is autosomal dominant (only one parent transmits the disease or here the trait).

What to do when you’ve never paid attention to the sun, or even looked for it and even enjoyed being exposed to it? Either accept this consideration without turning it into a drama, or use the many techniques available on the market:

• depigmenting creams;
• cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen;
• laser ;
• flash lamp;
• peeling.

Some observations can be launched as avenues for reflection on fashion and beauty.

In the XNUMXth century in particular, when women wore gloves, hats and umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun, the skin had to be as white as possible. And yet, it was the fashion of flies and their language. According to the place of the face where it was drawn, the woman displayed her character (the passionate, the libertine, the cheeky). We deliberately drew spots on our face.

Then, men and women competed to be the most tanned (e) possible with a lot of creams and other capsules. As for freckles, they often have such a charm that we find on the web all the possible ways to highlight them.

What are the things and fashions?