They are also called liver spots.
Most age spots appear on the face, neck, and hands.
These brown spots in themselves are harmless, but they can be a sign of more serious underlying problems. They are the result of a buildup of wastes known as lipofuscin accumulation, a byproduct of free radical damage in skin cells. These spots are actually signs that the cells are full of the type of accumulated wastes that slowly destroy the body's cells, including brain and liver cells. In other words, they are a surface sign of free radical intoxication of the body. Factors that lead to the formation of age spots include poor diet, lack of exercise, poor liver function, the ingestion of oxidized oils over a period of time, and, above all, excessive sun exposure.