Whether you call them age spots, liver spots, sun spots, brown spots or solar lentigo, these benign areas of discolouration commonly appear on our hands, neck, shoulders and face as we get older.

Sebaceous cysts are created when a small amount of sebum is retained under the skin and blocked by an overgrowth of surface skin. They are relatively uncommon and are often confused with epidermoid cysts (also known as infundibular cysts) and pilar cysts.

Verrucae, also known as plantar warts, can be extremely painful. They can range from a small pinhead up to a large singular or widespread mosaic coverings and often contain black dots and can last for years

Warts are small, rough, viral growths on the skin. They are very common and are usually spread by direct skin-to-skin contact or indirectly through shared contact with contaminated surfaces.

Xanthelasma palpebrarum are blemishes caused by deposits of cholesterol under the surface of the skin. They range in size from very small up to 1″ in diameter and are normally found on the eyelids.

Moles are a form of pigmented naevi that are commonly found on the face and body, varying in size and colour from pale tan to brown to blue/black and often developing deep terminal hairs in them because of a well-developed blood supply.

Cherry Angioma are small blood spots that are benign vascular blemishes. They can vary in size from small pin dots to as large as a penny; and in colour from bright red to darker tones. Cherry angioma are not painful, but may bleed when scratched and can become distressing, particularly if they are in difficult to mask areas.

Large blood spots on the body, head and scalp are often known as Campbell de Morgan. While they may be distressing to live with, they are a completely harmless vascular blemish that can easily be removed with diathermy.

Telangiectasia, also known as red veins, thread veins and broken capillaries, are common in exposed and vulnerable areas such as the nose. These can be caused by trauma to the skin. Treatment aims to restore the previous appearance of the skin.

Skin tags are benign, innocuous growths which vary in size, shape and attachment. They are often found in areas where there is friction, such as where the skin creases or clothes rub. Skin tags (technically known as fibro-vascular papilloma) are increasingly common as we age and affect almost half of the population.

Seborrhoeic keratosis is a benign, asymptomatic mass, primarily caused by the ageing process. It is also known as seborrhoeic warts, senile warts, barnacles or basal cell papilloma. They have a thick wart-like surface and are usually colourless when they appear and become brown to black over time.

Dermatosa Papulosa Nigra are small brown or black raised areas of skin that affect one third of people with Fitzpatrick skin types 5 and 6. In many cases, Dermatosa Papulosa Nigra is a genetic condition that appears on the face, upper cheeks and temples, eyes and chest and increases with age.