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Do All The Spots On My Legs Looks Like Normal Freckles/moles/sunspots?
Posted on
Tue, 26 May 2020
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 26 May 2020
Answered on
Fri, 17 Oct 2025
Last reviewed on
Question : Hello! I suffer from health anxiety and have recently had an uptick of it, probably due to worries over COVID. My worries usually gravitate toward my skin. I am 53 years old and fair skinned with some freckles and a few age spots. I just visited my dermatologist last week for a full skin cancer screening and all was well, with no areas of concern. Yesterday I spent some time in the sun with sunscreen on and afterwards I noticed that the freckles and spots on my legs seem darker and more numerous. I am attaching some
Images....the first two are pictures from right after my skin screening and before my sun exposure, the second two are from after spending only about half an hour in the sun.
My questions are:
1) do all the spots on my legs looks like normal freckles/moles/sunspots?
2). Is it typical to notice a darkening of the freckles and spots after sun exposure, which also makes them more noticeable?
3) do you have any words of wisdom for me, that I don’t need to worry and stress when I see a few more freckles or spots in the summer months or just as I’m aging? Again, I use sunscreen and get yearly skin cancer screeningS.
Thank you so much!!
Images....the first two are pictures from right after my skin screening and before my sun exposure, the second two are from after spending only about half an hour in the sun.
My questions are:
1) do all the spots on my legs looks like normal freckles/moles/sunspots?
2). Is it typical to notice a darkening of the freckles and spots after sun exposure, which also makes them more noticeable?
3) do you have any words of wisdom for me, that I don’t need to worry and stress when I see a few more freckles or spots in the summer months or just as I’m aging? Again, I use sunscreen and get yearly skin cancer screeningS.
Thank you so much!!
Brief Answer:
Regarding freckles
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX How are you? thank you for your writing.
I think you forgot to upload the images. I request you to kindly upload the images in " Reports Section ".
It is pretty common to notice darkening of freckles after exposure to sun. This can be appreciated even after a few minutes of exposure to strong sun. This immediate darkening is not due to new melanin synthesis the time but rather to melanin redistribution which makes them appear more prominent.
Hope to assist you further once I get the images.
Regarding freckles
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX How are you? thank you for your writing.
I think you forgot to upload the images. I request you to kindly upload the images in " Reports Section ".
It is pretty common to notice darkening of freckles after exposure to sun. This can be appreciated even after a few minutes of exposure to strong sun. This immediate darkening is not due to new melanin synthesis the time but rather to melanin redistribution which makes them appear more prominent.
Hope to assist you further once I get the images.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Hi Dr. Kakkar! I'm so happy you got my question! I hope you're doing well! I'm doing well, but just having a bout of increased anxiety, again focused on my skin!!
I tried uploading the images but they wouldn't upload for me, so I sent them as an attachment to an email to your customer service department.
I tried uploading the images but they wouldn't upload for me, so I sent them as an attachment to an email to your customer service department.
Brief Answer:
Benign pigmented lesions
Detailed Answer:
thank you.
I have viewed and compared the before and after pics.These are all normal freckles, lentigines and moles. There are absolutely no changes in post sun exposure image from the pre sun exposure image, that would have otherwise concerned you. So, don't worry. Changes if any were to happen would take years of sun exposure and you can easily avoid those from happening. The only thing that you need to do in that regard is to avoid strong sun and wear a sunscreen all the time.
Take care.
Benign pigmented lesions
Detailed Answer:
thank you.
I have viewed and compared the before and after pics.These are all normal freckles, lentigines and moles. There are absolutely no changes in post sun exposure image from the pre sun exposure image, that would have otherwise concerned you. So, don't worry. Changes if any were to happen would take years of sun exposure and you can easily avoid those from happening. The only thing that you need to do in that regard is to avoid strong sun and wear a sunscreen all the time.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Brief Answer:
Benign pigmented lesions
Detailed Answer:
thank you.
I have viewed and compared the before and after pics.These are all normal freckles, lentigines and moles. There are absolutely no changes in post sun exposure image from the pre sun exposure image, that would have otherwise concerned you. So, don't worry. Changes if any were to happen would take years of sun exposure and you can easily avoid those from happening. The only thing that you need to do in that regard is to avoid strong sun and wear a sunscreen all the time.
Take care.
Benign pigmented lesions
Detailed Answer:
thank you.
I have viewed and compared the before and after pics.These are all normal freckles, lentigines and moles. There are absolutely no changes in post sun exposure image from the pre sun exposure image, that would have otherwise concerned you. So, don't worry. Changes if any were to happen would take years of sun exposure and you can easily avoid those from happening. The only thing that you need to do in that regard is to avoid strong sun and wear a sunscreen all the time.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Dr. Kakkar -- I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- you are the absolute best and I cannot thank you enough for always being there to allay my crazy worries and concerns!
One last follow up -- so if I notice more of the little freckles and sunspots popping up on my arms and legs and sun exposed areas (I truly do not spend much time in the sun!), I don't need to stress every time I see some new spots like that, correct? Again, I'm vigilant about yearly skin screenings with my dermatologist.
One last follow up -- so if I notice more of the little freckles and sunspots popping up on my arms and legs and sun exposed areas (I truly do not spend much time in the sun!), I don't need to stress every time I see some new spots like that, correct? Again, I'm vigilant about yearly skin screenings with my dermatologist.
Dr. Kakkar -- I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- you are the absolute best and I cannot thank you enough for always being there to allay my crazy worries and concerns!
One last follow up -- so if I notice more of the little freckles and sunspots popping up on my arms and legs and sun exposed areas (I truly do not spend much time in the sun!), I don't need to stress every time I see some new spots like that, correct? Again, I'm vigilant about yearly skin screenings with my dermatologist.
One last follow up -- so if I notice more of the little freckles and sunspots popping up on my arms and legs and sun exposed areas (I truly do not spend much time in the sun!), I don't need to stress every time I see some new spots like that, correct? Again, I'm vigilant about yearly skin screenings with my dermatologist.
Brief Answer:
regarding freckles and lentigines
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Freckles and lentigines themselves are not dangerous, however, they do indicate that the skin has had much sun exposure over the years. So while a few new ones won't matter, if you use a sunscreen regularly, you must nevertheless do skin self exam besides yearly dermatologist skin screening.
Take care and good day
regarding freckles and lentigines
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Freckles and lentigines themselves are not dangerous, however, they do indicate that the skin has had much sun exposure over the years. So while a few new ones won't matter, if you use a sunscreen regularly, you must nevertheless do skin self exam besides yearly dermatologist skin screening.
Take care and good day
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
regarding freckles and lentigines
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Freckles and lentigines themselves are not dangerous, however, they do indicate that the skin has had much sun exposure over the years. So while a few new ones won't matter, if you use a sunscreen regularly, you must nevertheless do skin self exam besides yearly dermatologist skin screening.
Take care and good day
regarding freckles and lentigines
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Freckles and lentigines themselves are not dangerous, however, they do indicate that the skin has had much sun exposure over the years. So while a few new ones won't matter, if you use a sunscreen regularly, you must nevertheless do skin self exam besides yearly dermatologist skin screening.
Take care and good day
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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