Freckles
Freckles are small, flat coloured spots on the skin that are about the size of a nail head. They develop randomly on the skin particularly following exposure to sunlight. Consequently they darken and increase in number and size during the summer, reducing in number and fading in the winter. Although people of any skin pigment can develop freckles they are much more common in persons of pale complexion. While freckles can be red, yellow, or different shades of brown, they are always darker than the surrounding skin.
What are they?
Sunlight contains ultra-violet light. When this light hits the surface of the skin (the epidermis) special cells called melancocytes produce a pigment called melanin, which is a brown/black colour. This process results in the tanning of the skin in order to protect the lower layers beneath the epidermis from burning. In most of the skin the melanin is distributed evenly but in some places it clumps together creating the brown patches we know as freckles.
The removal of freckles is purely for cosmetic reasons, as freckles pose no health risk at all. Freckles are often wrongly confused with more serious conditions associated with skin cancer such as melanoma. If you have any concern about any pigmented spots please consult your doctor.