All You Need to Know About Freckles (2024)

Freckles are pigmentation, often brown, that appear as small dots on your skin. They are often in areas prone to sun exposure, such as the cheeks or arms. The medical term for freckles is “ephelides.” They usually fade during the winter months and darken when exposed to the sun.

This article will explain what freckles are and what causes them to appear. It will also explain if there is any reason to contact a doctor about them.

See Also

Freckles: What They Are, vs. Moles, Causes & Removal

Freckles are patches of pigmentation, or spots, that appear on your skin. They are typically harmless and result from overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Freckles are often brown due to a pigment in the skin called melanin. Melanin is a group of molecules in the skin, responsible Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source for pigmentation in skin and hair.

With sun exposure, melanin accumulates in the skin, thus appearing as little brown dots on the face. They can also appear on other areas of the body, such as:

• neck
• chest
• back
• arms and forearms
• hands
• shins

Read more about melanin and what it does, here.

Freckles are most common in people with less skin pigment and in children with red hair. The gene responsible is the MC1Rgene, which gives instructions for making the melanocortin 1 receptor. It plays an important part in the pigmentation and color of skin and hair.

There are two main types of freckles:

1. Ephelides
2. Lentigines

You may also know ephelides as freckles, and lentigines as brown spots or sun spots.

The main difference between the two is ephelides appear with sun exposure and fade during the winter months, but lentigines do not need UV radiation to appear.

The pigment known as melanin causes freckles. Cells known as melanocytes make melanin, which diffuses into the most prominent cells in the skin, called keratinocytes.

Melanin from melanocytes increases during the summer UV radiation, and decreases during winter.

Freckles appear brown because of the melanin pigment.

It is important to distinguish between freckles and melanoma, which is a form of skin cancer that begins in the melanocytes.

The first symptoms of melanoma include:

• freckles or sun spots that change or evolve in appearance
• asymmetrical spots
• uneven borders
• different colors appearing, such as red or white
• a spot measuring 6 mm or more

Usually, melanoma appears as a “funny-looking” freckle or mole.

Your risk of developing melanoma may increase with:

• frequent moles on your body
• use of tanning beds
• red hair, or skin with less pigment
• family history of melanoma
• outdoor exposure without sun protection

Read more about melanoma here.

Although freckles, sun spots, and moles are typically harmless, it is important to check for any changes in appearance, such as size, color, or border.

You can do a self-test, also known as the ABCDEs of melanoma:

• A for Asymmetry:Look for asymmetrical spots by drawing a line through the middle of the lesion. The two halves should match up.
• B for Border:Check for borders around spots that look uneven.
• C for Color: A warning is a change in color, including colors such as red, white, or even blue.
• D for Diameter: It is important to catch melanomas when they are small, which can help ensure a good outlook. It is important for a doctor to evaluate any spot bigger than 6 mm in diameter.
• E for Evolving: Assessing changes in freckles, sun spots, and moles is always important. Look for changes in color, size, shape, crustiness, itchiness, or height.

Contact your doctor immediately if you notice any of these symptoms because melanoma is usually most treatable if caught as early as possible.

Freckles are mostly harmless and do not require treatment. Avoiding sun exposure can prevent freckles from darkening or from appearing more often, especially during summer.

Other treatments may include:

• appropriate sun protection, such as sun cream and sun-protective clothing
• creams designed for fading or to reduce the effects of skin aging
• chemical peels
• lasers that target melanin in the skin
• cryosurgery

Freckles are small brown dots of pigmentation that appear on your face, arms, and other parts of your body prone to sun exposure. There are two types of freckles. Freckles that fade during the winter months, and those unaffected by UV radiation, known as sun spots.

Freckles do not require treatment, but it is important to keep an eye on any distinctive marks on your skin. Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that can often look like freckles. Use the ABCDE test to distinguish between common freckles, and marks that may be cancerous.