What Are Freckles?
Freckles are small light brown or tan spots that appear on the skin. They generally appear on the face or any other part of the body that is exposed to the sun. This includes the arms, neck, and shoulders. Freckles are not harmful, natural, and are generally not a sign of any health issues.
Freckles are caused by skin cells (known as melanocytes) that produce a pigment called melanin. In normal circumstances, melanin functions to protect the skin from ultraviolet rays from the sun. The exposure to ultraviolet rays triggers the production of melanin making freckles appear darker. Freckles can be divided into ephelides and solar lentigines. Ephelides are the commonest, often thought as freckles, while solar lentigines are dark skin patches that occur in adulthood. While similar, they differ in various ways.
