Freckles are small spots on the skin that can be red, brown, or somewhere in between. They often appear on areas that get a lot of sun, like the face, neck, back, chest, hands, and arms. They are especially common in people with red hair and fair skin and can show up in children as early as 1 or 2 years old.
Contents
What causes freckles?
- Excess production of melanin: Melanin, which is produced by melanocytes, is responsible for the pigmentation of your hair, skin, and eyes
- Sun exposure: If you have a light complexion, your melanocytes produce more melanin when your skin is exposed to the sun. Instead of tanning, you’re more likely to get freckles.
- Genetics: They are often inherited. Several genes are linked to freckling.
- Xeroderma pigmentosum: A rare condition that makes your skin more sensitive to UV light, like sunlight.
Types of freckles
- Ephelides
- Lentigines
Key differences between Ephelides and Lentigines are given below
Indicators | Ephelides | Lentigines |
Common name | Ephelides are the type of freckles that come to mind for most people when they think of the word “freckle.” | Also referred to as actinic lentigines, liver spots, or age spots, solar lentigines |
Size | Smaller in size (millimetre) | Larger in size (centimeter) |
Shape and color | Flat, light brown, or red spots. | Larger and darker. Range in color from yellow to red, brown, or dark. |
Seasonal change | They may become darker and more noticeable with sun exposure and lighten during the winter months. | Color does not change by seasons. |
Location of appearance | Usually found on the face, neck, shoulders, and arms | Found on sun-exposed areas like the face, hands, and arms |
Who gets it? | Individuals with lighter skin and hair colors. Most frequently observed in people of Caucasian and Asian descent | Darker skin types are more commonly affected, often due to prolonged sun exposure |
Age of appearance | Children who are 2 to 3 years old and can continue to appear into young adulthood. Over time, they typically become less visible | Individuals over the age of 40 |
Who gets freckles?
- Fair-skinned individuals with a genetic predisposition, particularly those with red or light hair.
- Children, especially those with fair skin, often develop freckles, they can appear at any age.
- Individuals with frequent sun exposure, due to the heightened production of melanin.
Freckles and race
- Caucasians: Freckles are most common among Caucasians, especially those of Northern or Western European descent, such as the Irish, Scottish, and Scandinavian populations.
- Other Ethnicities: Also appear in people of Asian and African descent but are less common and usually less pronounced.
Freckles and skin cancer
Individuals with freckles, especially those with fair skin, have an increased risk of developing skin cancer including melanoma. Therefore, it can sometimes be confused with other skin spots, so it’s essential to monitor any changes in size, shape, or color. Risk factors for skin cancer and freckles are almost the same. If a freckle looks suspicious or changes over time, it’s advisable to consult a dermatologist.
What is pigmentation?
Pigmentation is the natural color of your skin. Various types of skin pigmentation include age spots, melasma, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Freckles represent a form of skin pigmentation.
What are moles?
People often confuse freckles as red body moles. Both get their color from melanin, which forms in melanocytes and can darken with sun exposure. Moles are generally bigger, raised above the skin and develops when skin cells cluster together. Freckles, on the other hand, are flat and have a normal number of pigment-producing cells that do not turn into moles. Most moles typically don’t require treatment. However, if you observe any changes in a mole’s color, size, height, or shape, it’s important to have it evaluated by a dermatologist.
How to reduce freckles?
- Bleaching/Fading Creams: Use products with hydroquinone or kojic acid. Effective when combined with sun protection.
- Laser Treatment: Various lasers can safely and effectively reduce freckles, with a low risk of scarring.
- Retinoids: Tretinoin, tazarotene, and adapalene may lighten freckles when used consistently for several months.
- Cryosurgery: Using liquid nitrogen at a doctor’s office can address certain freckles, but results may vary as not all will respond to this treatment.
- Chemical Peels: Helps lighten freckles and improve uneven pigmentation.
When should I consult a dermatologist?
You should consult a dermatologist or healthcare provider if any of your freckles or skin spots:
- Alter in size, shape, or color.
- Have uneven or poorly defined borders.
- Appear asymmetrical (one half does not match the other when divided).
- Become painful, itchy, or begin to bleed.
- Start to rise above the skin’s surface.
- Develop dark patches or multiple shades.
A note from us
Freckles are a typical form of skin discoloration and are generally harmless. However, it’s important to monitor all the spots and discolorations on your skin. Since the genetic aspect of freckling cannot be altered, our primary preventive strategies focus on avoiding sun exposure and ensuring proper sun protection.
Focus keywords: Freckles, Moles
Written by Liya Sunny
Source
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23091-freckles
https://www.jidonline.org/article/S0022-202X(15)30640-0/fulltext