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Brown Patches Can Be Dangerous

Portland Lentigo Dermatologist

Imperfections of the skin such as a lentigo or age spots appear more frequently in elderly patients. They can be bothersome and embarrassing if they will appear in the facial area such as the cheek or forehead.  Lentigines (plural for lentigo) can look like a freckle and can appear as brown or black and darker than a freckle.  Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause lentigo to appear and that is the reason why these age spots are more common in elderly people.  These are collections of pigment caused by exposure to the sun.  Normally, lentigo is not cancerous or harmful.  There are different types of lentigo that will enable the dermatologist to determine if they are cancerous or not:

  • Lentigo Simplex
  • Reticulated Lentigo
  • Solar Lentigo
  • Lentigo Maligna

There are some cases of age spots that demand concern such as a Lentigo Maligna.  Lentigo Maligna appears as common freckles and spots in the skin.  Of all the 4 types enumerated above, only Lentigo Maligna poses a danger for skin cancer.  This can become severe if it is not treated in the early stages.  In the long run, it can become a malignant carcinoma.  That is why the majority of dermatologists generally recommends a once a year examination of the pigment changes and spots of the skin. Visiting your nearby dermatologist can prevent skin cancer.  We cannot assume that those simple brown patches of our skin pose no harm unless diagnosed by an expert dermatologist such as Dr. Patricia Norris of Norris Dermatology and Laser Northwest.

Schedule now your consultation with Dr. Norris by calling (503) 227-7117 to diagnose and treat your brown spots.

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