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why are freckles a thing

by Dr. Bennie Legros Sr. Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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They form as a result of overproduction of melanin, which is responsible for skin and hair color (pigmentation). Overall, freckles come from ultraviolet (UV) radiation stimulation. There are two categories of freckles: ephelides and solar lentigines
lentigines
A lentigo (/lɛnˈtaɪɡoʊ/) (plural lentigines, /lɛnˈtɪdʒɪniːz/) is a small pigmented spot on the skin with a clearly defined edge, surrounded by normal-appearing skin. It is a harmless (benign) hyperplasia of melanocytes which is linear in its spread.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Lentigo
. Ephelides are the common type most people think of as freckles.

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Natural Treatment

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  2. Mint and Banana Mixture. : Mint offers an ample supply of antioxidants effective against fighting freckles, whereas nutrients in Banana keep the skin hydrated.
  3. Buttermilk. : It is not only a superb combatant against freckles, but also hydrates our skin. ...
  4. Lemon Juice. ...
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How to get rid of freckles once and for all?

When you have freckles, you are automatically outside the realm of “normal” beauty. Since freckles haven’t traditionally been considered pretty, we freckled ladies have had to go against the ...

Why are freckles considered to be a beauty flaw?

Dark freckles appearing on the surface of the skin might occur for a number of reasons. The usual culprits include lifetime overexposure to the sun, a genetic predisposition to freckles, and a combination of both factors. Occasionally, diseases can also cause dark-colored spots to appear on the skin. One example is melanoma, a serious form of ...

What are the common causes of dark freckles?

You have them because of the genes you were born with. Freckles often show up during childhood, and you may continue to get more until you're in your 20s. People with fair skin or red hair are most likely to have them. There are two types of freckles: ephelides and solar lentigines.

Why did some humans evolve to have freckles?

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What Are Freckles?

Freckles are extra patches of coloring (or pigment) under your skin. Doctors call them ephelides. You have them because of the genes you were born with.

How to avoid getting freckles?

Have a diameter of more than 6 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser) Become raised off of your skin. Have dark patches or multiple colors. Start to grow or change size or colors. Freckle Prevention. You can avoid getting more freckles by protecting yourself from the sun.

What is the best treatment for freckles?

Chemicals like alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and trichloroacetic acid (TCA) Laser treatments. Cryotherapy (skin freezing) Chemical peels. Creams like retinol, a form of vitamin A. A dermatologist will need to decide which treatment is best for you. You should see a doctor if your freckles: Have jagged borders.

Where do moles form?

You can find moles anywhere on your body. For instance, you can have them on your scalp, between your toes, and under your nails. Almost everyone has at least a few moles.

Where on the body can you get sun?

Can be anywhere on your body that gets sun, including areas like your back, chest, face, forearms, hands, and shins

Do freckles fade?

Natural freckles don't need treatment. They aren’t a sign of a skin problem. As you get older, they may get lighter on their own or go away entirely, depending on what type of freckle they are. If you don't like how your freckles look, treatments can help fade them.

1. "Freckles" is a slang word

It comes from the Old Norse — you know, like all great slang — and appeared in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales: "A fewe freknes in his face y-spreynd." Freckles also go by the medical term "ephelides," from the ancient Greek "éfilis," which translates to "rough spot on the face." In reality, freckles are not rough or raised.

2. You won't find a single newborn with freckles

Typically, freckles don't appear until two to three years of age for the simple reason that babies and young toddlers are usually shaded from the sun and don't accumulate enough UV radiation for freckles to form, explains Rebecca Marcus, MD, a dermatologist in Dallas.

3. Genetics determine whether you'll get freckles

If you are part of the approximately 2 percent of the world's population with naturally red hair, you are especially likely to get freckles because they are caused by a genetic variant of the MC1R gene that also gives you red hair, explains Rachel Maiman, MD, a dermatologist in New York City.

4. Without the sun, there would be no freckles

Freckles are born from an increase of pigment (melanin) that is flipped on by UV rays. Sometimes freckles form after a sunburn — typically, three to five days later — but you don't have to experience a burn or tan or sun damage to get freckles. All you need is some sun exposure in your life plus the variant of the MC1R gene.

5. Freckles aren't the same as sun spots

Sun spots, or solar lentigines, are flat, brown spots, tend to be larger and more irregularly shaped than freckles and take many years to fully develop after repeated sun exposure. Sun spots are seen on a wide range of skin types and tones, and "most commonly begin to appear around age 40," says Dr. Marcus.

6. A freckle typically does not become cancerous

"Beauty marks," such as moles, can turn into melanoma over time, but freckles are innately benign, says Neda Mehr, MD, a dermatologist in Newport Beach, California. That said, the presence of freckles can signal your susceptibility to developing skin cancer, says Dr. Marcus.

7. Freckles aren't (necessarily) forever

This is another big difference between freckles and sun spots, which won't go anywhere without treatment. Generally, freckles fade during the winter and are more prominent in the summer, when sun exposure is at its highest. (Bonus fun fact: The German word for freckles is "sommersprossen," or "summer sprouts.") But even in the summer, Dr.

What are freckles?

Freckles are small flat spots that are usually found on sun-exposed areas of your body. They’re tan, red, light brown or dark brown.

How do freckles develop?

Freckles are the result of an overproduction of melanin. Melanin is a pigment that gives your hair, skin and eyes (your “complexion”) its color.

What causes freckles?

Freckles develop mostly due to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Other causes include:

Do freckles need to be treated?

As freckles are almost always harmless, there’s no need to treat them. As with many skin lesions though, it’s best to avoid the sun as much as possible and use a daily sunscreen. This is especially true if you freckle easily or don’t wish to develop more freckles.

How can I get rid of my freckles?

Freckles can’t be completely removed but can be lightened with topical products, lasers and cryotherapy.

Can I prevent freckles from developing?

As exposure to the sun mainly causes freckles, the best way to prevent them is to protect your skin from sunlight.

What are moles?

Moles can appear anywhere on your body. Moles can be of various shapes and sizes. They’re usually larger than freckles. Moles range in color from pink to tan to blue to black to even skin-toned or colorless. Moles can be flat or slightly raised. Most aren’t cancerous (benign), but they can grow and change color and shape. Some can turn cancerous.

What are freckles genetic?

They're genetic. Freckles are linked to a key genetic player in regulating your skin and hair color. A gene known as MC1R controls how much of two different kinds of melanin you produce. The two types are 1) darker brown eumelanin and 2) reddish-yellow pheomelanin.

What are freckles in medieval times?

In Medieval times, they were considered witches' marks. Never mind the fact that men have and will alway be just as susceptible them–right up there with moles, warts, and birth marks—freckles were said to be indicative of a women's allegiance to the devil. This content is imported from YouTube.

What are the different types of freckles?

There are two different kinds of freckles. The more common of the two are ephelides, which are flat, light brown marks that tend to fluctuate with the seasons. "They can get darker in summer and lighter in the winter time," explains Rachel Nazarian, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology.

Do melanocytes act as sunscreen?

5. They double as natural sunscreen. The melanocytes act as a natural sunscreen by darkening your face and thus make the skin less susceptible to UV rays. But seriously, it's no excuse not to be applying and reapplying a minimum of SPF 30 daily.

Do babies have freckles?

3. Nobody is born with them. Have you ever seen a newborn baby with freckles? Nope. Never. "Despite what some people say, freckles are absolutely always from sun exposure," says Nazarian. "They cause the pigment making cells in your skin to rev up and create more pigment."

Does skin change with sunlight?

Then there are lentigines, AKA liver or age spots, where the the skin contains even more melanocycte cells and thus, doesn't typically change based on exposure to sunlight.

Do freckles cause cancer?

If you've got a lot of specks, your skin is more sensitive and you're at great risk for skin cancer. (Though freckles are never cancerous themselves.) 5.

Why do freckles darken skin?

Freckles darken a person’s skin to protect them from harmful UV rays. That said, these freckles are no replacement for actual sunscreen. In fact, many freckles may actually mean that your skin is very sensitive to sunlight.

Why do babies get freckles?

Freckles are caused by exposure to the sun. It’s from your skin ramping up the pigment production due to exposure to UV rays. Since babies have never been exposed to sunlight, they won’t get freckles until they have been outside. Tommy van Kessel 🤙 on Unsplash.

What is a witch's mark?

6) In medieval times, freckles were considered witches’ marks. If you were a woman in the Dark Ages and you were covered in freckles, people were more likely to assume you were a witch. It was an old superstition that wasn’t based on any truth. People with freckles are no more or less likely to be good or bad people.

What percentage of redheads have no freckles?

It’s estimated that approximately 20 percent of redheads have no freckles at all. Chris Ross Harris on Unsplash.

Can freckles cause cancer?

That’s not the case. Freckles will never cause cancer in the body. If you do happen to get melanoma, it will appear as a mole on your body.

Do freckles replace sunscreen?

Freckles darken a person’s skin to protect them from harmful UV rays. That said, these freckles are no replacement for actual sunscreen.

Do you know if you have freckles?

6 Fascinating Things You Never Knew About Freckles. Almost all of us have freckles, some more than others. Many of us are too dark for them to be seen, but they are very visible in those with a fair complexion. Even though they cover our whole body, most of us know almost nothing about them.

What are freckles made of?

Freckles are tan or light brown spots on your skin. They’re made of clusters of skin cells that contain the pigment melanin. Unlike moles, which are raised, freckles are flat. Freckles aren’t painful or harmful. No one is born with freckles, even though they may be genetic. They’re triggered by sun exposure.

How to lighten freckles?

Buttermilk has lactic acid, which could potentially help lighten your freckles. Sour cream: Apply sour cream directly to your skin, and then wash it off after a few minutes. Like buttermilk, sour cream contains lactic acid. Yogurt: Apply yogurt directly to your skin and leave it on for a few minutes.

What is the pigment that protects skin from the sun?

Your skin contains cells called melanocytes that produce the pigment melanin. Melanin helps protect your skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Sun exposure encourages melanocytes to produce more melanin. Freckles are a build-up of melanin on your skin’s outer layer.

What is fading cream?

Many fading creams contain hydroquinone, an ingredient thought to suppress melanin production and lighten darkened areas of skin.

How to lighten skin?

Lemon juice: Apply lemon juice directly to your skin with a cotton ball, and then wash it off. Lemon juice is thought to lighten skin.

What is the chemical peel?

A chemical peel uses a chemical solution to exfoliate and peel off areas of damaged skin. To remove freckles, a moderate skin peel containing glycolic acid or trichloroacetic acid penetrates the skin’s middle layers. Once damaged skin is removed, new skin is generated.

What to do if you notice a change in freckles?

If you notice changes in size, color, or shape of a freckle, see your doctor or dermatologist. They’ll be able to determine whether it’s a reason for concern.

I had my makeup "professionally" done

I usually do my own makeup, I have some specific features and I know what I like and what I don't like.

What are some unknown brands that you love?

When I’m talking unknown, I mean like you hardly ever see influencers or friends or anybody talk about them.

What are you currently excited about?

My SIL just surprised me with a Sephora gift card for helping so much with her wedding. I haven't needed to buy in a while and haven't been keeping up with product launches. Anything you are really excited about?

Primers!

Let's talk primers. I've seen face primers. Eye primers. Mascara primers. All sorts of stuff.

When were freckles popular?

Some see them as a sign of youth, while others find them a pain, but freckles have been made fashionable by the beauty industry time and time again since the 1960s.

When did fake freckles first appear?

And since 1967, when Vogue published its first issue about achieving 'fake freckles', everybody from make-up artists to - more recently - TikTokers have been coming up with ways to get the look.

Can you do fake freckles without a hospital?

There are lots of ways you can try out the fake freckles trend without ending up in hospital. For example, there are lots of make-up pens out there you can use to dot some freckles on your face. You could use any light coloured eyebrow pencil, or there's even pencils specifically for creating freckles, such as Freck.

Is there a fake freckle trend?

The fake freckles trend has been around on TikTok for a couple of years now. Basically, beauty moguls have posted videos of themselves experimenting with all sorts - from henna ink to brown markers - to achieve fake freckles.

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1.Freckles: Causes, identification, and risks - Medical News …

Url:https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323471

35 hours ago Freckles are harmless marks on the skin caused by genetics and exposure to sunlight. If people have freckles, they will need to take extra care of their skin in the sun.

2.Freckles Explained - WebMD

Url:https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/freckles-skin-spots

2 hours ago Freckles are extra patches of coloring (or pigment) under your skin. Doctors call them ephelides. You have them because of the genes you were born with. Freckles often show up during …

3.The Fascinating Science Behind What Causes Freckles

Url:https://www.allure.com/story/what-causes-freckles

5 hours ago  · 4. Without the sun, there would be no freckles. Freckles are born from an increase of pigment (melanin) that is flipped on by UV rays.

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

Url:https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23091-freckles

16 hours ago Freckles are the result of an overproduction of melanin. Melanin is a pigment that gives your hair, skin and eyes (your “complexion”) its color. Melanin, produced by skin cells called melanocytes, …

5.Facts About Freckles - Weird Things About Freckles

Url:https://www.marieclaire.com/beauty/news/a26294/facts-about-freckles/

12 hours ago Freckles darken a person’s skin to protect them from harmful UV rays. That said, these freckles are no replacement for actual sunscreen. In fact, many freckles may actually mean that your …

6.6 Fascinating Things You Never Knew About Freckles - Urbo

Url:https://www.urbo.com/content/fascinating-things-you-never-knew-about-freckles/

15 hours ago  · The process looks something like this: “When they are freshly done, [the freckles] will appear swollen, almost like bee stings,” says Rainbow. “The swelling will go down within a …

7.Freckle Tattoos Are a Thing: Here's Why the Cute Ink Is …

Url:https://www.allure.com/story/freckle-tattoo-trend-freckling

26 hours ago  · Why freckles appear. Freckles are tan or light brown spots on your skin. They’re made of clusters of skin cells that contain the pigment melanin. Unlike moles, which are raised, …

8.How to Get Rid of Freckles: 7 Ways - Healthline

Url:https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/how-to-get-rid-of-freckles

6 hours ago Some people really like freckles but don't have any naturally, so it's normal to want to draw some on. I don't think that it's any different to wearing coloured contacts or wigs. I usually go over my …

9.Why has drawn-on freckles become such a thing on MUA?

Url:https://www.reddit.com/r/muacjdiscussion/comments/38mp8v/why_has_drawnon_freckles_become_such_a_thing_on/

20 hours ago  · Some see them as a sign of youth, while others find them a pain, but freckles have been made fashionable by the beauty industry time and time again since the 1960s.

10.TikTok Fake Freckles Trend: What Is It And Why Is It So

Url:https://www.ladbible.com/community/53021-tiktok-freckles-trend-dangerous-20210618

25 hours ago

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