Why do some people have freckles?
Freckles are concentrated specks of the pigment protein melanin. Melanin is produced when ultraviolet light (UV) strikes the skin. UV rays are harmful, and melanin protects the skin by darkening it—imagine your skin putting on a pair of sunglasses. Melanin is generated by melanocytes, a kind of cell. Melanocytes are equally distributed in certain persons, and sun exposure results in a smooth wash of melanin, popularly known as a tan. In others, melanocytes congregate, and the light forms bizarre melanin constellations, a.k.a. freckles.
Melanin is produced by melanocytes, which are unique cells. These cells are present in your skin's epidermis. People can develop distinct skin colors in three ways. One approach is that the less melanin, the lighter the skin. Another method is for people to have fewer melanocytes. The third method is a little more involved and has to do with the type of pigment produced. Melanin may be divided into two categories. Pheomelanin is red or yellow pigmentation, whereas eumelanin is brown or black pigmentation.
Scientists uncovered another gene responsible for freckles in Chinese cultures around a decade ago. Other genes may also be involved—scientists have yet to discover all of the genetic reasons of freckles, which appear in a wide range of ethnic groups. Freckles are always a family business, regardless of the specific genetic mechanism: Freckles are passed down across families, as are their positions on the body. While some pigmented skin conditions can induce freckling, freckles on their own are not a reason for worry (unlike moles, which are elevated lumps on the skin, freckles are flat). However, if you have freckles, use lots of sunscreen since the places where the freckles aren't will be more vulnerable to sunburn.
