Medical Terminology for Age Spots
The medical term for age spots is "solar lentigines" (singular: solar lentigo), also known as "lentigo senilis" or "senile lentigines." 1
Alternative Medical Names
- Solar lentigines - the most accurate medical term reflecting their UV-related etiology 1, 2
- Lentigo senilis - emphasizing their association with aging 1
- Senile lentigines - older terminology still used in medical literature 2
- Liver spots - a common lay term, though medically inaccurate as these lesions have no relationship to liver function 3, 4
Clinical Characteristics
Solar lentigines are light brown to black pigmented lesions of various sizes that develop in chronically sun-exposed skin. 1 They represent focal areas of hyperpigmentation that occur predominantly on sun-exposed areas such as the face, dorsal hands, and forearms. 1, 2
The term "solar lentigines" is preferred over "age spots" because it accurately reflects the primary etiology: chronic ultraviolet radiation exposure rather than chronologic aging alone. 1, 2 These lesions are strongly associated with photodamage and cumulative sun exposure throughout life. 1, 3
Pathophysiology
The development of solar lentigines involves increased proliferation of basal keratinocytes combined with decreased turnover of suprabasal keratinocytes, leading to exaggerated rete ridge formation and disrupted melanin processing. 1 Notably, melanocyte pigment genes are not differentially expressed in these lesions, distinguishing them from other pigmentary disorders. 1
Clinical Context
Solar lentigines should be distinguished from other pigmented lesions including ephelides (freckles), seborrheic keratoses, and lentigo maligna, which may require histopathological examination for definitive differentiation. 2