What are the small tan dots on my skin?

Author: Mrs. Sydni Rippin  |  Last update: Saturday, November 8, 2025

Age spots are small, flat dark areas on the skin. They vary in size and usually appear on areas exposed to the sun, such as the face, hands, shoulders and arms. Age spots are also called sunspots, liver spots and solar lentigines.

What are slightly raised tan spots on skin?

A seborrheic keratosis (seb-o-REE-ik ker-uh-TOE-sis) is a common noncancerous (benign) skin growth. People tend to get more of them as they get older. Seborrheic keratoses are usually brown, black or light tan. The growths (lesions) look waxy or scaly and slightly raised.

What are tiny brown specks on skin?

Brown spots, known medically as solar lentigo (lentigines plural), are a common part of the aging process of your skin. Many people call them “age spots” or “liver spots” but dermatologists prefer to call them “wisdom spots” because we collect more of them the older/wiser we get.

What are light sun spots on skin?

Sunspots, or guttate hypomelanosis

Sunspots are white spots where skin pigment has been lost. These spots usually cause no symptoms, are 1–3 millimeters (mm) in size, and tend to appear first on the legs before progressing to the arms, upper back, and face.

Why do I have light colored spots on my skin?

Some people who develop light spots and patches have vitiligo. This condition develops when your body starts destroying some of the cells that give your skin its color. In areas where the skin cells have been destroyed, you see loss of skin color. People of all skin colors can develop vitiligo.

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Why am I getting light brown spots?

Ultraviolet (UV) light speeds up the production of melanin, a natural pigment that gives skin its color. On skin that has had years of sun exposure, age spots appear when melanin becomes clumped or is produced in high concentrations. Use of commercial tanning lamps and beds also can cause age spots.

What are the tiny sun spots?

Age spots are small, flat, darker areas that may show on skin that is exposed to the sun. Think shoulders, face and hands. People can begin noticing age spots in their 30s and 40s. Even if you're responsible applying sunscreen, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays over time adds up.

What do melanoma sun spots look like?

Sun spots are usually harmless, with consistent color and smooth borders. In contrast, melanomas often have irregular borders and uneven color and may change over time. One helpful way to tell the difference is the ABCDE rule: Asymmetry: One half of the mole doesn't match the other half.

What are the light brown patches on my skin?

Light brown or black skin patches may be a sign of acanthosis nigricans. This treatable skin disorder isn't contagious or dangerous. However, it can be a sign of diabetes, so talk to your healthcare provider. Often, treating diabetes (or another underlying cause) causes the skin to clear up.

Do sun spots go away?

Most Sunspots (often known as “liver spots” though they have nothing to do with your liver) fade somewhat over time. They typically do not disappear completely because the skin has been permanently damaged by the sun. Sunspots are flat areas of discolored skin that can be tan or varying shades of brown.

What are the little specks on my skin?

Petechiae (puh-TEE-kee-ee) are pinpoint, round spots that form on the skin. They're caused by bleeding, which makes the spots look red, brown or purple. The spots often form in groups and may look like a rash. The spots are often flat to the touch and don't lose color when you press on them.

What are brown spots of dirt on skin?

Terra firma-forme dermatosis is a benign condition of acquired dirt-like plaques. The name, “terra firma,” is derived from the Latin words meaning “solid land” [1,2]. It has also been referred to as Duncan's dirty dermatosis since the condition was first described by Duncan, Tschen, and Knox in 1987 [3].

What does a sun keratosis look like?

It tends to lie flat against the skin of the head and neck, but appears as a bump on arms and hands. The base of an actinic keratosis may be light or dark, tan, pink, red, or a combination of these. Or it may be the same color as the skin.

What does tan melanoma look like?

Melanomas have uneven coloring. They may have patchy areas of brown, blue, red, tan, white, gray or pink. Ordinary moles are usually an even shade of brown or tan. Melanomas are usually more than 1/4 inch in diameter (about the size of a pencil eraser) but some may be smaller.

What is a skin barnacle?

Barnacles are small mounds of dry, crusty cells that can vary in size, from a tiny barnacle on skin to larger patches, and are commonly found on the face or body. The formal name for these lesions is seborrhoeic keratoses and they're a side effect of ageing and sun damage.

What do pre cancerous sun spots look like?

While patches can vary in particulars, some of the signs include: Crustiness or bleeding. Diameter of less than one inch. Discoloration, often appearing brown, pink, gray, red, yellow, or white.

Why do I suddenly get brown spots on my skin?

What causes brown spots to suddenly appear on the skin? Brown spots can appear suddenly due to increased melanin pigment, often triggered by factors like sun exposure, changes in hormones, age, or skin conditions.

What does stage 1 basal cell carcinoma look like?

A shiny, skin-colored bump that's translucent, meaning you can see a bit through the surface. The bump can look pearly white or pink on white skin. On brown and Black skin, the bump often looks brown or glossy black. Tiny blood vessels might be visible, though they may be difficult to see on brown and Black skin.

Why do I suddenly have sun spots?

Melanin can build up on areas of the skin that have received repeated and intense sun exposure, resulting in darker-looking spots on the skin. Sun spots are more common with age, but younger people can also develop them, especially if they've spent a lot of time in the sun.

Does apple cider vinegar really get rid of age spots?

There's also evidence that it may help manage dry skin, acne, and age spots, among other conditions. ACV is generally safe to use, but it does come with a risk of irritation or worsening skin symptoms, especially for people with sensitive skin or skin conditions.

What are the brown dots on my skin called?

Also called sunspots, solar lentigines, or liver spots, people can develop dark spots on their skin after exposure to the sun or tanning beds. Areas of the body that receive the most sun exposure, such as the face, hands, or arms, are most likely to develop sun spots.

What STD gives you dots?

Symptoms of yeast infection in the genital region (e.g. on the penis or in groin area) include: Red, raised dots or bumps, which may be itchy.

How to get rid of light spots on skin?

Treatment
  1. Medications. Applying prescription bleaching creams (hydroquinone) alone or with retinoids (tretinoin) and a mild steroid might gradually fade the spots over several months. ...
  2. Laser and intense pulsed light. ...
  3. Freezing (cryotherapy). ...
  4. Dermabrasion. ...
  5. Microdermabrasion. ...
  6. Chemical peel.

What are syphilis spots?

Symptoms of syphilis include: small sores (ulcers) on your penis, vagina, or around your bottom (anus) – these are usually painless and you may only have one of them. sores in other areas, including in your mouth or on your lips, hands or bottom.

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