• Question: Why do freckles only show up after exposure to sunlight?

    Asked by fisherjwh to Helen, Jenni, Mark, Martin, Stu on 22 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Helen O'Connor

      Helen O'Connor answered on 22 Jun 2011:

      We all have pigment-producing cells in our skin called melanocytes which produce melanin pigment to help our skin cells protect us from being damaged by the sun.

      When our skin cells become damaged by the sun, too much melanin pigment is produced in some places, and these are freckles. So basically, freckles tell us that we are getting damaged by the sun.

      Once you have a freckle it is always there, but it won’t show up as much in the winter as in the summer. Tanning will always make freckles get worse, because, like the rest of your skin gets browner, so do these patches of melanin.

Comments