Freckles – charming or alarming?

Keep an eye on these beauty marks. They’re not as benign as they look.

In Spots Free

Thanks to some Hollywood stars, freckles are the new beauty marks. Instead of showing off spotless complexions, celebrities are loud and proud of their speckled facades. “Why hide behind all that makeup?” “Freckles make you unique.”

In fact, there’s a growing freckle trend, and fans have gone the extra mile by getting freckle tattoos.

While we applaud the idea of embracing what makes you different, here’s the thing: freckles, real ones, are not always as benign as they appear.

What are freckles?

They’re small and flat, brown or dark yellow spots that can appear alone or in a cluster. They're usually hereditary but freckles can also be caused by overexposure to the sun. Skin darkening is the body’s natural protection against harmful UV rays, so the appearance of freckles is a sign of mild sun damage.

When do I start to panic?

Firstly, don’t panic. You may have just started noticing your freckles. Have a look at old photos to see if these spots have been with you forever, have darkened with age or have only recently developed.

If you’ve been applying sunscreen daily and avoiding overexposure to the sun, then freckles are quite harmless.

But if you’ve noticed one or two odd-looking freckles, there’s a chance it could be something more serious, like melanoma, a type of skin cancer, and it’s worth checking with your dermatologist.