Freckles are often caused by variations in a particular gene that affects melanin. They are common and usually harmless. If you have concerns about any marks on your skin, consult a dermatologist for proper diagnosis.
Freckles are spots of pigment under your skin. The medical term for them is “ephelides.” They are often caused by a variation in a particular gene, which is passed down from parent to child.
If you have certain variations of this gene, it’s more likely that sun exposure will cause freckles to form on your skin. They’ll typically appear on areas such as your face, arms, neck, back, and chest. You may also see them on the back of your hands.
In most cases, freckles do not cause any problems and are nothing to worry about. But if you are prone to sunburn or have very light skin, it’s a good idea to stay in the shade when possible and use sunscreen every day.
Read on to learn how your genes can determine whether you’ll develop freckles, how to identify them, and how you can reduce their appearance if they bother you.
Freckles are not rare, but some people are more likely to have them than others. Your genes can affect your likelihood of developing freckles.
If you have a particular gene variation that makes you more likely to get freckles, sun exposure can cause them to appear. However, people without this variation may also develop freckles.
Variations in the MC1R gene are known to cause freckles. This gene is located on chromosome 4q32-q34. It’s a dominant gene, which means that if your parents have freckles, there’s a good chance you’ll also have them.
However, the gene is also autosomal, so it’s not linked to your sex chromosomes. This means that the sex chromosomes you receive do not affect whether you develop freckles.
The MC1R gene codes for the melanocortin-1 receptor, or MC1R protein, which is on the outer surface of a type of cells called melanocytes. This protein is also known as the melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor since it causes melanocytes to produce the skin pigment melanin.
The MC1R gene responds to UV radiation from sun exposure. When activated, it causes a series of steps ending with the production of melanin by your melanocytes.
Differences in the MC1R gene can cause some people to be more prone to freckles.
Other genes are also thought to be involved in freckling, as people without differences in the MC1R gene can also have freckles.
Freckles form when melanocytes produce a large amount of melanin in one area of your skin.
Melanocytes produce two types of melanin: eumelanin and pheomelanin. Differences in the MC1R gene affect how much of each type of melanin is produced.
Certain variations in the gene make it harder for the MC1R protein to stimulate eumelanin production. This causes melanocytes to produce more pheomelanin than eumelanin. The differing amounts of each type of melanin affect the color of each person’s hair or skin.
If you mostly produce eumelanin, you’ll likely have brown or black hair and darker skin that tans easily. This type of melanin also helps protect your skin from sun damage. However, it’s still important to wear sunscreen no matter your skin tone.
Pheomelanin does not protect your skin from UV radiation. People with a lot of this type of melanin usually have red or blond hair and lighter skin that does not tend to tan. Having more pheomelanin increases your likelihood of having freckles.
Genes other than MC1R are also thought to be involved in determining hair and skin color.
However, a 2019 study suggests that the MC1R gene is the most important gene in determining whether someone has red hair. In other words, other genes may have very little to no effect, and variations in MC1R are the sole cause of red hair.
However, the study has limitations, and more research needs to be done to confirm this information.
If you have freckles, you might have certain variations in the MC1R gene that increase the risk of a type of skin cancer called melanoma.
This is because your skin might have less eumelanin, the type of melanin that helps protect you from UV radiation. That means your skin is more vulnerable to sun damage, which is the main risk factor for melanoma.
However, MC1R gene variations can also affect people without freckles. These variations may increase the risk of melanoma, but not through sun damage. This can happen in people with light or dark skin.
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Freckles are not harmful and do not need treatment. But if you want to reduce their appearance, various methods may help. These treatments don’t typically remove freckles but can lighten them.
Common treatments include chemical peels, laser treatment, and cryotherapy. It’s important to discuss your options with a dermatologist to find a treatment that’s suitable for you.
Freckles may occasionally disappear on their own without any treatment. And in some people, they might appear more prominently in the summer when the skin is exposed to the sun. If your freckles appear with sun exposure, they will often fade in the winter months.
Some people’s freckles might become less noticeable as they get older. But freckles that result from sun damage will usually increase with age.
Many marks on your skin may look like freckles. Here’s how you can tell the difference.
Freckles usually appear in the summer on sun-exposed areas and fade during the winter. They are light to dark brown in color, flat, and about 2 to 4 millimeters in diameter. They are most commonly round but can come in any shape. The spots may also merge to form larger patches.
Sunspots can look very similar to freckles, but they are not the same and are usually larger. Sunspots are sometimes known as “age spots” or “liver spots.”
You may wonder whether sunspots are harmful, but they are not cancerous and cannot become cancerous. They are caused by sun exposure and typically appear in older adults. People with any hair or skin color can develop sunspots.
A mole is another common type of mark that may appear on your skin. You may be born with moles or develop them as a child. Moles can be flat or raised and are usually darker than freckles or sunspots.
Freckles are most often caused by variations in the MC1R gene that affect the production of the skin pigment melanin.
Although freckles are harmless and typically don’t require treatment, various methods can lighten their appearance if they bother you.
Certain variations in the MC1R gene that cause freckles may also increase the risk of melanoma, so it’s important to consult a dermatologist if you have any worries about marks on your skin. A dermatologist can help differentiate freckles from other marks on your skin.