Most spots on the backs of the hands are solar lentigines, commonly called age spots or sun spots: flat, tan-to-brown marks from years of sun exposure. They are harmless. The marks worth having a dermatologist check are the ones that change, grow, become raised or multi-colored, bleed, or do not heal. This is general information, not a diagnosis.
You noticed a new mark on the back of your hand and want to know what it is. In the large majority of cases the answer is reassuring, but it is worth knowing both what the common spots are and the handful of signs that mean you should have one looked at.
Two kinds of spot account for most of what appears on aging hands. Solar lentigines, the age spots, are flat, evenly colored tan or brown patches caused by sun exposure concentrating pigment in small areas. They are completely benign and have nothing to do with the liver, despite the old nickname. Seborrheic keratoses are slightly raised, waxy or stuck-on-looking growths, tan to dark brown, that also become more common with age and are likewise harmless.
Both are essentially a record of sun exposure written on the skin, which is why they cluster on the hands, face, forearms, and chest rather than on areas that stay covered.
A harmless spot stays put: flat or stable, one even color, a clear border, unchanged over months and years. The features that warrant a dermatologist's look are the opposite of that, and they come down to change and irregularity.
See a dermatologist if a spot: is growing or changing shape; has an irregular, blurred, or uneven border; contains more than one color; becomes raised, crusty, or scaly; itches, bleeds, or does not heal; or simply looks different from the rest of your spots. These signs do not mean something is wrong, but they are the reason to get a professional opinion rather than guess. HandScan AI cannot diagnose skin conditions, and this page is not a substitute for a dermatologist.
If a spot is confirmed harmless and you simply want it less visible, the same measures that prevent new spots also fade existing ones over time. Daily sunscreen on the hands stops them from darkening and keeps new ones from forming. Topical vitamin C and retinol lighten pigment gradually over weeks. For faster results on a confirmed benign spot, dermatologists offer cryotherapy, laser treatment, or prescription lightening creams. None of this is necessary for health; it is purely cosmetic.
Curious how your hands read overall? HandScan AI gives your hand a skin grade and an estimated biological age from a single photo, including an overall read on sun-related pigmentation. It does not diagnose individual spots. Free, about 15 seconds, at handscan.ai.
Scan the back of your hand for an overall read on texture, tone, and sun-related aging — free, in 15 seconds. Not a medical diagnosis.
Scan my hands →They are almost always solar lentigines, commonly called age spots, sun spots, or liver spots. They are flat, tan-to-dark-brown patches caused by years of sun exposure prompting the skin to produce extra pigment in small areas. They are harmless and unrelated to the liver, despite the old name.
Most are not. Solar lentigines and seborrheic keratoses, the two most common hand spots, are benign. However, any spot that changes, grows, becomes raised or multi-colored, bleeds, or does not heal should be examined by a dermatologist, because those features can indicate something that needs attention. This guide is informational and is not a diagnosis.
Typical age spots are flat, evenly colored tan or brown, with a clear border, and they stay the same over time. The features that warrant a dermatologist's look are change or asymmetry: a spot that is growing, has an irregular or blurred border, contains more than one color, is raised or crusty, itches or bleeds, or simply looks different from your others. When in doubt, have it checked.
Cosmetic age spots can be faded. Daily sunscreen prevents new ones and keeps existing ones from darkening, topical vitamin C and retinol lighten them gradually, and dermatologists offer faster options such as cryotherapy, laser, or prescription lightening creams. None of this is necessary for health, only appearance.
Because the backs of the hands take heavy, lifelong, usually unprotected sun exposure, similar to the face but without the sunscreen most people apply to their face. Sun-exposed areas, the hands, face, forearms, and chest, are exactly where solar lentigines tend to appear.
Further reading:
→ Brown spots on hands: age spots or something to watch?→ Why do my hands look so old?→ How to protect your hands from the sun