1. What is freckle?
Freckle is a kind of pigmentation of brown spots that are common on the face, which can aggravated and triggered by sun exposure.
2. Is freckle a kind of infectious disease?
Freckle has certain genetic tendency and is a polygenic disease. Some of the freckles belong to autosomal dominant inheritance while others autosomal recessive inheritance.
3. What causes freckles?
The reasons for freckles are varied. First, pressure, dietary bias, inadequate sleep and other adverse living habits can increase melanin inside your body.
Second, Endocrine system disease, chronic wasting disease, malnutrition disease and other diseases can change skin tone, blackening it or even causing color spots.
Third, UV rays can stimulate the melanin in skin and leads to freckles and other skin lesions. Fourth, certain photosensitive foods are also responsible for freckles. The foods rich in copper, iron, zinc and other metals have this disadvantage. Fifth, endocrine disorder can cause production of melanin. Lastly, autosomal dominant inheritance is the main cause for freckles.
4. What are the features of freckles?
Females are prone to have freckles which commonly appear on their childhood. Freckles mostly form on the face, especially on the nose and cheeks. The size of the lesion ranges from a needle to a rice granule. They are spots in light brown to dark brown, varied in size and number without conscious symptoms. Generally, freckles in spring and summer are heavier than those in autumn and winter.
5. Who can easily suffer from freckles?
Children aged 5 to 10 mainly with girls.And girls after their adolescence are also freckles prone.
6. Where do freckles mostly appear?
They commonly appear on the face, especially on the nose and cheeks, and they can also be seen on the neck, the shoulders, the backs of the hands and other exposed parts.
7. Will freckles fade away by themselves?
Freckles are mainly caused by excessive melanin produced by melanocytes in the basal layer of the skin. Most of them don't go away by themselves. Only the ones in lighter color may disappear on their own.
8. When will freckles stop developing?
Freckles generally appear at one’s age of 5 to 10 and most of the freckles will be in the state of rest, stopping developing themselves after one has entered his or her adulthood namely over 20 years old.
9. Why should people with freckles pay more attention to sun protection?
That’s because after exposure to sunlight, X-ray, and ultraviolet radiation, melanosomes in the epidermis rapidly become oxidized and cause rashes deepened, enlarged and increased.
10. How to treat freckles?
Treatments can include drug therapy, cryotherapy and laser therapy. Laser treatment can have the best effect while its cost is the highest.
Drug therapy is to use hydrogen peroxide solution of 3% and Hydroquinone cream to remove freckles, whose effect is temporary.
Cryotherapy refers to Liquid Nitrogen Freezing which shall be cautious about as it may lead to depigmentation or even scars.
Laser therapy refers to Q-Switch laser treatment with wavelengths of 510nm, 532nm, 694nm and 755nm. It has good effect but may not prevent relapse of freckles.
11. What are the considerations of freckles removal by laser?
Remove skincare products and cosmetics before the treatment to avoid their effects on the treatment. Have regular visit to the doctor, have sun protection and prevent infection after the treatment. There’s possibility of freckle relapse even if they’ve been removed this time.
12. How to prevent freckles?
a. avoid excess sun exposure especially in summer. Holding an umbrella or wearing sunscreen when going out.
b. Take fresh fruits and vegetables full of Vitamin C and E.
c. Avoid photosensitive drugs or food such as psoralen and methoxypsoralen.
d. Keep a good mood and avoid anxiety and depression.
