Have you ever pondered why certain individuals develop freckles while others remain unmarked? You’re far from alone. Even some freckle-bearers remain uncertain about their origins, or why they intensify during the summer period.
Freckles are tiny, flat, tan or light-brown marks on the skin that are hereditary and result from excessive melanin production, the pigment determining skin and hair colouration.
They are entirely benign and emerge on sun-exposed regions such as the face and shoulders.
Some individuals are so enamoured with the appearance freckles provide, that they apply them to their own skin using cosmetics during the summer months. Certain beauty brands have even developed entire product ranges centred on creating artificial freckles for your face.
UK-based General Practitioner (GP) Dr Sermed Mezher outlined precisely why freckles emerge and what triggers them.
Why do freckles appear on faces in summer?
He explained: “There are different types of freckles, solo lentigenes, which people develop throughout their lifetime and can be a sign of photo damage of the skin.
“But the ones that people are generally talking about are the ones in people with lighter skin, red hair, ginger, and those are called effolidies.
“They form as somebody is developing throughout their childhood. Those conventional freckles are also triggered by sun exposure, but why do some people get them and others don’t?
“Well, because of variations in the MC1R melanocortin gene. This variant tends to cause melanin to clump rather than form an even tan, so when exposed – leads to increased freckles that tend to fade throughout the winter months.”
Can freckles be removed?
While many people adore their freckles and celebrate them during the summer months, others may be seeking ways to reduce their appearance on their skin.
The Cleveland Clinic states that freckles cannot be entirely eliminated, but their appearance can be diminished through topical products, laser treatments and cryotherapy. They recommend consulting a dermatologist to explore the most suitable treatment options.
Freckles can also be kept at bay by shielding your skin from sunlight, applying SPF 30 or higher sun cream, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, and steering clear of peak UV hours between 10am and 4pm.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
