Brown spots?

[jbhunt]

I've noticed that when I am out in the sun for prolonged periods of time brown spots form on my face. Over time they get darker/larger and turn into birthmarks. How can I prevent these from forming, and if I used a low SPF sunblock to prevent these, would I still be able to be out in the sun a lot without the formation of these spots. I am 17 by the way.

thanks

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
They can be due to solar lentigenes. They are harmless, flat, brown discolorations of the skin which usually occur on the back of the hands, neck and face of people. They are caused by the skin being exposed to the sun over many years and are a sigh of sun damage. The only way to prevent age spots is to use liberal amounts of sunscreen before the age of forty, avoid the sun, and wear protective clothing. The newest treatment for age spots is an alpha hydroxy acid gel or beta hydroxy acid gel.  Retin-A cream, alpha hydroxyacid peels, and liquid nitrogen therapy are other options.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[honeyrose]

The marks sound like sun damage or melasma. To prevent them you should use total sunblock, otherwise they'll just keep coming back. There is no other way to prevent them.