Why Freckles Appear
Lentigines (age spots) and ephelides (freckles) are frequently dark, brown or black spots that show over time on sun exposed areas of the skin. These spots are commonly on the back of the hands, face and legs. People who tan extensively may also have them over the shoulders, back, chest and several other areas of skin.
Markings such as lentigines are external collections of the skin pigment called melanin that have accumulated inside the external layer of the skin, known as the epidermis.
Ephelides occur commonly in lighter skin types, particularly in people who get skin burns quickly when exposed to the sun. Lentigines typically appear later in life and can develop on all skin types.
Certain skin marks and age spots medically known as lentigos are often called “liver spots” or “age spots”. However, both of these terms are misnomers. While freckles do commonly show over time, they are not by themselves a sign of old age. Rather, they show up on the sun-exposed areas of people who have an inherited tendency to develop them.
When exaggeratedly exposed to UV rays, whether from a tanning booth, a sun lamp or years of going out without sunscreen, vulnerable skin defends itself by secreting an overabundance of melanin, resulting in uneven patches. Age spots or lentigos and seborrhoeic keratoses are brown patches that usually appear on the back of the hands, face and the back. This pigment is deposited as a type of response to injury, just like a scar is a response to a cut.
Even while this condition is harmless, it must not be confused with melanoma, a type of skin cancer. Lentigo impacts both sexes equally. Ethnically, the majority of cases happen in skin types I-II, although lentigo has been observed in all other types on rare occasions. The lighter complexion in Caucasians increases one’s sun sensitivity and gives way for the increased danger of acquiring the condition. People that suffer from the inability to tan in natural sunlight are especially at risk and need to therefore tune into the daily practices that effect healthy skin. Genetic factors must also be considered; persons with a family history of melanoma, or potential precursors to melanoma, are more at risk to developing lentigos.
Lentigo-type freckles & Seborrheic Keratoses
Sometimes older people who have these lentigo-type freckles also have raised, brown, crusty lesions called seborrheic keratoses. Seborrheic dermatoses are also benign (not malignant) growths of the skin. Although they are usually brown, they can differ in color and range anywhere from light tan to black. The tell-tale feature of seborrheic keratoses is their waxy appearance. They seem like they have either been pasted on the skin or may be physically similar to a drop of melted brown candle wax that dropped on the skin. Seborrheic keratoses may happen in the same areas as freckles, but since they are not made by sunlight, they can also be found on covered areas. When they first show, the growths commonly begin one at a time as small rough bumps. Eventually, they thicken and form a rough, warty surface.
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