Age spots and skin melanoma are two concerns for men and women
of all ages. While the skin changes may be nothing more than a
nuisance, some skin cell changes require further treatment. Skin
cancers can spread to other parts of the body, causing damage
and ill health when not treated. Though many skin conditions are
harmless, knowing the difference between what is harmless and
what is not will save a patient from having to learn the hard
way. The differences between age spots and skin melanoma may be
subtle, but these differences are important to know. What Age
Spots Look Like Age spots occur as the skin ages and thins. As
the outer layers of the skin become thinner, the melanin in the
skin comes to the surface more easily, resulting in spots. The
more sun exposure the skin has, the more melanin will be
produced, causing more age spots. This is why many people have
age spots on the backs of their hands. Since the skin on the
backs of the hands is thin anyway, plus these areas are not
usually covered by clothi