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Freckles - Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Definition

Freckles are small spots of melanin on the skin. Freckle is also known as mole. Actually it is a flat circular spot on the skin about the size of the head of a nail. It mostly develops after repeated exposure to sunlight, particularly in someone of fair complexion.

Moles (nevi) are clusters of pigmented cells. Although they often appear as small, dark brown spots, moles come in a range of colors and sizes. They can be raised or flat and can develop almost anywhere on your body even between your fingers and toes.

Causes

Freckles are commonly found on the face and hands, and any other part of the body that has been overexposed to the sun. Freckles are among the many signs of photoaging. Photoaging occurs when excessive sun exposure speeds the skin's natural aging process. After exposure to sunlight, the outer layer of the skin thickens and the pigment-producing cells in the skin produce the pigment melanin at an increased rate.
On the other hand, people with dark complexions are relatively less sensitive to sun exposure than fair-skinned persons. However, persons with dark skin are not entirely resistant to the effects of the sun, and they, too, can become sunburned with prolonged exposure.
For those who already have any brown, discolored lesions, an in-depth consultation should be scheduled with a physician. He or she will perform a careful examination to determine that these spots are not pre-cancerous. This can develop on the skin causing growths that have irregular borders and strange colors such as black, red or pink.

Symptoms

Some of the Possible Symptoms of Freckles are :-

There may be change in the skin color and shape.
Diarrhea is another common symptom which is accompanied with freckles.
The skin cancer may be a possible symptom of freckles.
Moles are often produced at the affected area of skin.
In men, melanoma most often occurs on the trunk. In women, melanoma is most often found on the arms and lower legs. It is found most often in people with fair skin. African-Americans and people with dark skin are more likely to have melanoma on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.

Treatment

Treatment of melanoma that has not spread beyond the original area of growth is highly effective, and most of these cancers can be cured. In some cases, melanoma that has spread to nearby lymph nodes also can be treated effectively.

Most prescription creams used to lighten the skin contain hydroquinone. Bleaches lighten and fade darkened skin patches by slowing the production of melanin so those dark spots gradually fade to match normal skin coloration. Prescription bleaches contain twice the amount of hydroquinone, the active ingredient, as over-the-counter skin bleaches. In more severe cases prescription creams with tretinoin and a cortisone cream are added. These are somewhat irritating to sensitive skin and will take 3-6 months to produce improvement.