How do freckles develop

Solar lentigines are dark patches of skin that develop during adulthood. This includes freckles, aging spots, and sunspots. The two types of freckles can look similar but differ in other ways such as their development. Ephelides: These freckles form as a result of sun exposure and sunburns. They show up on your face, the back of your hands, and upper body. This type tends to be most common amongst people with lighter skin tones and hair color.

People of Caucasian and Asian descent are more prone to ephelides. Solar letigines : Like ephelides, this type tends to appear in Caucasians and adults over 40 years old.

The credit for freckles goes to both the natural environment and genetics. Your risk for burning can increase the incidence of freckles. In a study of middle-aged French women, two elements predicted the presence of freckles: frequent sunburns and a gene known as MC1R, which provides instructions for making melanin. There are two type of melanin: pheomelanin and eumelanin.

For solar lentigines, the French study also found that several different factors increased the likelihood, including:.

All freckles fall into the ephelides and solar lentigines category, although freckles and sun spots can differ. Solar lentigines include sunspots, which can sometimes be scaly. Moles are not the same as freckles. They are still skin lesions but are often darker and not necessarily associated with sun exposure. Like ephelides though, moles are more common among light-skinned people.

A mole is made of an excess of pigment-forming cells with a greater than average supply of blood vessels. Moles can take on a wide variety of appearances. The color can range from brown to pink and can assume different shapes.

Freckles and moles by themselves pose no threat. But moles can suggest an increased risk for melanoma , or malignant skin cancer. Make an appointment with your doctor or a dermatologist if your freckles, moles, or sunspots display one or more of the above criteria. The risk of melanoma increases with the number of moles. Someone with moles can have a 1. This can be as high as times more for someone with moles or more.

In one analysis, the risk of melanoma for white populations was approximately 32 and 20 times higher than people with darker skin. An annual screening is a good idea, if you fall into one of the at-risk categories or develop a new mole. Discover what causes skin to freckle easily and who is more likely to have these wonderful markings.

What causes freckles? Can anyone get freckles? How to care for freckles Your freckles are what make you so unique — learn how to make the most of gorgeous freckled skin. Beautiful freckles deserve the best care Skin that freckles easily should be embraced and well cared for. Step-by-step face care routine for freckles Cleansing Always remember to remove makeup and impurities by cleansing the skin at the beginning and end of every day.

Step-by-step face care routine for freckles Exfoliating Exfoliating with a peeling such as NIVEA Exfoliating Scrub is important for removing dead skin cells and unclogging pores. Step-by-step face care routine for freckles Toning Toning removes any excess sebum and other impurities and refreshes the skin ready for moisturising. Step-by-step face care routine for freckles Moisturising Like all other skin types, skin that freckles easily also needs to be hydrated to stay radiant and beautiful.

Step-by-step face care routine for freckles Applying eye cream Hydrating the delicate eye area is an essential skin care step, as this area is more fragile and prone to dryness. Can you prevent freckles? By staying out of the sun and using sun cream your skin will have more protection which means less melanin will be produced and your skin may produce less freckles. Due to this increased production of melanin caused by the sun, people who get freckles should be more careful in the sun as they have an increased likelihood of getting skin cancers.

If you have freckles you should pay attention to any freckles that change shape or colour and seek medical advice if you are worried about any of them. Lentigo What is Lentigo? What can cause Lentigo? Stay out of the sun The best way to stop freckles is prevent them in the first place. Stay out of the sun, especially during the times the sun is most powerful 11am-4pm , seek the shade and stay indoors when you can.

Use sun protective clothing, there are clothes available that protect against UV rays such as long sleeve shirts, trousers and hats. If you do need to head out in the sun use a SPF 50 sunscreen to protect from sun overexposure and reapply every couple hours.

Tips for combating dry skin on hands. These precautions can help protect you from harmful UV radiation which can lead to sunburns, damage to your skin cells' DNA, and increase the risk of skin cancer, eye problems, and premature aging. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options.

Get the Insider App. Click here to learn more. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. Women's Health. Primary Care. Mental Health. More Button Icon Circle with three vertical dots. It indicates a way to see more nav menu items inside the site menu by triggering the side menu to open and close. Ashley Laderer. Freckles happen when you are born with clusters of melanocytes, which are pigment-producing cells.

These melanocytes ramp up the production of dark pigment when you are exposed to the UV light from sunshine.