Whatever you call them – age spots, sun spots or brown spots – these dark patches of skin on the face or hands may leave you feeling self-conscious. While pregnancy, hormones and medication can all cause hyperpigmentation, sun exposure is the biggest culprit.
When you step into the sun, the body produces excess melanin, your skin’s natural pigment, to protect you from dangerous UV rays. As more melanin is produced, the darker your skin becomes. Eventually, the excess melanin clumps together, forming dark deposits at the skin’s surface.