What are lentigines? Lentigines are brown flat lesions with a clearly defined edge. The most common type, solar lentigines, arise in middle age and result from sun damage.

Understanding the Context

They are most often found on the face and hands, and they are larger and more defined than freckles. Other types of lentigo include ink spot lentigo and lentigo simplex. Solar lentigines are found as groups of similar lesions on sun-exposed sites, particularly the face or the back of hands. They occur in light and dark skin, but tend to be more numerous in fair-skinned individuals.

Key Insights

See more images of solar lentigines. How is a solar lentigo diagnosed? Solar lentigo is often diagnosed on its clinical appearance. The plural of lentigo is lentigines, although โ€œ lentigos โ€ is also in common use. Who gets lentigines?

Final Thoughts

Lentigines can affect males and females of all ages and races. Solar lentigines are especially prevalent in fair skinned adults. Lentigines associated with syndromes are present at birth or arise during childhood. What causes lentigines? Solar lentigo Solar lentigines are benign lesions occurring on sun- exposed skin. Pathogenesis is related to repeated intermittent sun exposure and ultraviolet-induced mutations leading to enhanced melanin production and abnormal pigment retention by keratinocytes.

What causes lentigo simplex? The cause of lentigo simplex is unknown. Multiple lentigines can occur without associated conditions, in which case the condition is referred to as lentigines profusa or generalised lentigines. When multiple lentigines occur with associated abnormalities, the condition forms its own disease entity.