Freckles are small brown spots of pigmentation on your skin, often in areas that get sun exposure. In most cases, freckles are harmless; however, if you decide you are unhappy with them, you can achieve pigmentation removal or minimization through fractional laser treatments.
Freckles 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. Ephelides are the common type most people think of as freckles. Solar lentigines are dark patches of skin that develop during adulthood. This includes freckles, aging spots, and sunspots. The two types of freckles can look similar but differ in other ways such as their development.
How do you get freckles?
Ephelides: These freckles form as a result of sun exposure and sunburns and are commonly addressed through fractional laser treatments. They can appear on anyone who doesn’t protect themselves from UV rays. They show up on your face, the back of your hands, and upper body. This type tends to be most common amongst people with lighter skin tones and hair color. People of Caucasian and Asian descent are more prone to ephelides.
Solar lentigines: Like ephelides, this type tends to appear in Caucasians and adults over 40 years old.
What increases your chance for freckles?
The credit for freckles goes to both the natural environment and genetics. Your risk for burning can increase the incidence of freckles.
In a study of 523 middle-aged French women, two elements predicted the presence of freckles: frequent sunburns and a gene known as MC1R, which provides instructions for making melanin. But the gene doesn’t affect all individuals the same way. There are two types of melanin: pheomelanin and eumelanin.
People whose skin produces pheomelanin aren’t protected from UV radiation and tend to have:
red or blonde hair
light skin
freckles
skin that tans poorly
People with more eumelanin tend to be protected from skin damage by UV and have:
brown or black hair
darker skin
skin that tans easily
Solar lentigines
For solar lentigines, the French study also found that several different factors increased the likelihood, including:
dark skin
the capacity to tan
a history of freckles
sun exposure
hormone treatment, such as oral birth control
In Conclusion
Star Medispa has been helping customers treat their pigmentation concerns since 2018. We are located in Downtown Sydney & Pyrmont and would love to provide you with a complimentary consultation where we customize a treatment plan that is just right for you!