Freckles - Prevent 'em or Treat 'em?

Millions of people around the world have freckles. However, there are those who wish that a full freckle remover existed. Why? There may be different reasons; it could be a matter of aesthetics (very important in a teen; freckles can be the source of great unhappiness) or health Freckles can pose a risk to our lives if they aren't adequately supervised and treated.

So, if you are interested in freckle removal, remedies for freckles and freckle treatments then it is in your best interest to continue reading this article and find out what can you do with them.

What Are Freckles?

Freckles are marks that appear in our skin as a consequence to our exposure to the sun. They are usually present in people with pale skin, blond or red hair. However, what causes freckles? The active ingredient for the production of freckles is the melanocortin-1 receptor MC1R gene variant.

When a person has this gene variant, and spends time under the sun, freckles will start to make their appearance, especially in the face. When the sun rays penetrate their skin, they make contact with the melanocytes, activating them. As a reaction, they will create new freckles or increase the size of the older ones.

Different Types Of Freckles

There are two main types of freckles, known as ephelides and lentigines. Ephelides comes from the Greek word for freckle: ephelis. The principal characteristic of this form of freckle is its color (red or light brown). Usually, they appear during the summer months and tend to disappear through the winter.

In the case of lentigines (the word comes from Latin, lentil), things are a bit different. Most of the times they appear in children and their skin develops a spot of darker colors (brown to black). Finally, they don't disappear during winter. Although they may not be very attractive in appearance, they don't pose any type of risk.

Although these are the two main types of freckles, there are some variations that need to be considered. For example, when an adult develops lentigines, they are usually called "age spots" or "liver spots". However, you shouldn't be deceived by these names. They are the manifestation of overexposure to the sun in a skin that has a genetic tendency to develop freckles.

Continue to: Prevent Teen Freckles

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