Years and years of worshipping the sun - or just a mere few sunburns over the years - can cause age spots. They're flat, freckle-like spots that appear on body parts that tend to be exposed to the sun most, such as hands, arms and the face, and fair-skinned people seem to be most susceptible. The upper layer of skin is where melanin, the substance that gives skin color, is produced. UV light accelerates the production of melanin, and when skin is frequently exposed to UV light, melanin may "clump" or be produced in excess in those areas. This results in black, brown or gray age spots that can be the size of a small freckle or as large as one centimeter across. Regardless, the best way to treat them is to avoid getting them in the first place. Typically, age spots begin to show up in those over the age of 40, but that timetable can be pushed back with excessive sun exposure and damage.