More details about freckles

Most freckles on an individual's skin are of the same colour. They are usually the size of a nail's head, i.e. 2-4 mm. Their appearance is most pronounced in people with fair complexions. Upon a longer period of sun exposure they tend to darken, while in the winter months with little sunshine they become lighter in colour.

There are two types of freckles, one are called the Ephelides and the other Lentigines. The Ephelides are most often referred to, appearing on fair-skinned individuals in the sunny months and fading in the winter. They are small, round and genetically determined. People with red hair and green eyes are very susceptible to the development of such freckles. Of course, these people cannot change their genetic material, but they can nevertheless reduce the appearance of freckles by avoiding the sun or at least by using adequate sun protection. Predisposition to have these type of freckles, named also “simple freckles”, can be determined by our genetic test.
Lentigines are the other freckle type and they are darker, often irregular in form, and larger. They usually do not fade in the winter and remain as pronounced as in the summer. They are not genetically based; the reason for their appearance is mostly sun exposure, thus the alternative name "sun spots".

Simple freckles pose no health hazard. They are not cancerous and usually do not develop into cancerous tissue. However, this is not the case with sun freckles, which may be more dangerous and thus require medical check-ups at every change or unusual feature in their appearance. It is much easier to prevent freckles than to get rid of them once they've already appeared. It is, however, possible to remove them with the use of special ointments, cryotherapy or laser therapy.

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