If you come across someone from the western countries, it is likely that you may notice some dark brown spots on their skin. These spots are called as freckles. Freckles are common in people who are born with light coloured hair and fair complexion. It is not that these people are the chosen ones, but it is just that there is some chemistry involved here. Let us unveil the secret behind these freckles...

What causes freckles?

Before going much further, let us find out the root cause behind these freckles... Our skin is mainly made up of three layers. The outer layer is called as the epidermis. The cells on our outer layer or the epidermis keeps drying and flaking and also gets replaced by the cells that are below immediately with each passing time. Our body is full of chemicals. So even our skin is not spared...

Inside the epidermis lies a layer of special cells called as the melanocytes. These cells produce a pigment called as melanin. Melanin is responsible to render the brown colour to our skin and also protects our skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays emitted by the sun. Melanin is brownish black in colour. The more the melanin content in your skin, the browner your complexion is.

Melanin level differs from person to person. Even if you notice, the complexion of your skin will differ from one body part to the other. This is because melanin distribution in your body is not even and hence you will find a variation in colour.

In some people, this melanin content, instead of spreading gets cluttered in one place and this turns into a dark brown spot which is called as freckles.

Freckles tend to grow darker and darker when they come in contact with sunlight. They start appearing in children around the age of five and slowly starts increasing in number and size and darkness during summer. However, the appearance of freckles start reducing and the existing ones start fading the moment winter approaches.

Treating freckles in an easy way

Freckles are generally harmless unless you are comfortable to live with them. However, if you are keen on improving your appearance then you can consult a dermatologist. A dermatologist may suggest some topical skin creams with an active ingredient called as hydroquinone which will help in lightening your skin colour and make it look even in skin tone.

Staying indoors especially when the sunlight is at peak is a good way to keep away freckles. Whenever you go out in the sun, make sure you wear clothing that covers your body completely. Make sure you wear a good sunscreen which has a good SPF or sun protection factor before stepping out in the sun.

If freckles do not bother you much, then you can easily hide them with the help of any cosmetic cover-up. Applying lemon juice on your skin will lighten the freckles when you step out in the sun.

Last but not the least limiting the exposure of freckles to the sun is the key to automatically reduce the visibility and further appearance of the freckles.