Medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · Last reviewed · 3 min read
Published 13 October 2026 · Reviewed by Dr Sin Yong
Solar lentigo (sun spot) is a discrete, flat, sharply bordered brown spot caused by cumulative sun exposure: a focal overgrowth of pigment-producing activity at the epidermal junction, on the cheeks, temples, shoulders, forearms and backs of the hands from the 40s onward. Unlike melasma it is structurally simple, so pigment-selective lasers and IPL are the usual options; in Fitzpatrick III to V skin, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is the main risk. A changing or irregular spot is examined first.
Key facts
ICD-10
L81.4
What it is
A focal overgrowth of pigment-producing activity at the epidermal junction: cumulative UV's signature
Differs from
Melasma (soft, symmetric patches), freckles and seborrhoeic keratoses, which need different management
Treatment and caveat
Pigment-selective lasers and IPL for discrete spots; PIH after lentigo lasering is well documented in darker skin, so settings and sun protection decide the plan
Where it fits
Correctly diagnosed, a sun spot is among the more laser-responsive pigment problems because it is structurally simple: epidermal pigment with a sharp edge. The two caveats are Singapore's. First, the impostor rule: a changing, irregular or outlier spot gets a dermatoscope and a diagnosis before a laser, because lentigo maligna exists. Second, the skin-type rule: in Fitzpatrick III to V skin, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after lasering is the main risk, so conservative settings and daily sun protection are part of the plan, and several browns on one face are sorted at one examination. Full page: sun spots; the sorting guide on types of facial pigmentation; the risk on post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A solar lentigo is a discrete, sharply bordered spot of epidermal pigment from cumulative sun; melasma forms soft, symmetric patches driven by hormones, heat and light, and it relapses. They are managed differently, which is why diagnosis comes before any laser.
A typical lentigo is benign. The concern is the outlier: a spot that is changing, irregular or unlike its neighbours is examined with a dermatoscope before treatment, because lentigo maligna, an early melanoma, can look like a sun spot.
References
Chan JC, Shek SY, Kono T, Yeung CK, Chan HH. A retrospective analysis on the management of pigmented lesions using a picosecond 755-nm alexandrite laser in Asians. Lasers Surg Med. 2016;48(1):23-29. doi:10.1002/lsm.22443. source
Torbeck RL, Schilling L, Khorasani H, Dover JS, Arndt KA, Saedi N. Evolution of the picosecond laser: a review of literature. Dermatol Surg. 2019;45(2):183-194. doi:10.1097/DSS.0000000000001697. source
