Venous lakes appear as bluish-purple spots usually on the lip though they may also appear on the ear or face. They are caused from the dilation of small veins called venules and are thought to occur on skin that has been exposed to excess sun. Venous lakes typically appear in people over the age of 50 but they can occur in younger adults. They are considered benign lesions but it is important to have them evaluated because they can resemble melanoma or basal cell carcinoma.