How to discern between harmless freckles and concerning skin issues
As temperatures heat up and more Americans are heading to the pool, beach and other outdoor spaces, sun exposure is bound to spike too.
For many people, regardless of skin color, this can mean a rise in visible freckles. But how do you know when a freckle is harmless versus whether it might actually be something of concern to your dermatologist?
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King shares all about how to discern between the two, and how you can keep your skin safe this summer.
What are freckles?
Freckles, or "ephelides," as dermatologists refer to them, are "pigmented spots that increase in number and darkness with sunlight exposure," King explains.
They're very small (usually less than 3 millimeters) and light brown spots that usually begin appearing on the face, but can also spread outward all over the body, according to the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. They usually pop up in childhood and become less noticeable as a person ages.
Freckles have an increased amount of melanin, King adds. That melanin is produced by skin cells exposed to ultraviolet light, which is usually more prevalent in the summer. This is why you might notice your freckles fading during the dreary, winter months.
What causes freckles?
Freckles aren't directly a sign of skin damage, but people who have more freckles are typically more sensitive to the sun's ultraviolet rays, which can cause skin damage, per Ohio State.
Dermatologists urge everyone, but especially those who are extra-sensitive to the sun, to regularly apply sunscreen and wear other skin coverings when out in the sun. A good rule of thumb is reapplying sunscreen every two hours, and again right after you swim or sweat, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Associates (AAD). You should also get familiar with your skin, and report any changes to your doctor.
Sometimes, new markings that pop up on the body are mistaken for freckles. This can vary from a benign lentigo to a cancerous mole.
Lentigines (the plural for a lentigo) are harmless pigmented spots on the skin that have a "clearly-defined edge, surrounded by normal-appearing skin," King explains. They're sometimes mistaken for freckles, but she notes that this technically isn't correct.
But new spots on the skin can sometimes be cause for concern. The AAD recommends following the ABCDEs of melanoma to help remember what to look out for when doing an at-home skin check:
- A is for asymmetry. "One half of the spot is unlike the other half."
- B is for border. The outer edge of the spot is irregular or poorly defined.
- C is for color. Freckles are a single shade of brown, but ones that are cause for concern can vary with multiple shades of tan, brown, black, red, white or blue.
- D is for diameter. Freckles, as previously mentioned, are small. If a mark on your skin is greater than 6 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser), that can be a sign that something isn't right.
- E is for evolving. "The spot looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape or color."
"Basically, if any spot is new or changing, has any of these features or looks different compared to your other spots, get it checked," King says.