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What are Freckles?

What causes Freckles?

How can I remove/get rid
of freckles?

Does tanning impact
freckles?

Can they be dangerous/
cancerous?

How can I prevent them?

Laser Freckle Removal

	How much does it cost?
	Does it hurt?

Freckle Fading Creams

Cryosurgery for freckle
removal

Choosing a Doctor

Pre-treatment questions

American Academy of
Dermatology

American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery

American Society for
Dermatologic Surgery

What Causes Freckles?


	The sun is the main cause of freckles

And the Culprit is...

The Sun! Freckles are a way our skin tells us: "Hey, I'm getting damaged by the sun!" What is happening is that the pigment producing cells in the skin, called melanocytes feed melanin to the keratinocytes, the normal skin cells that form the outer barrier of our skin to protect us. It keeps the good stuff in and the bad stuff out. When the melanocytes in the skin get damaged by the sun, we produce freckles which are abnormal collections of melanin pigment, packaged in a different way than a normal melanin pigment is packaged. They sit on the top layer of our skin which is called the epidermis.

Consult with a Doctor

A dermatologist should look at any spotting you plan to have removed to ensure that no precancerous lesions are partially removed, which can make it very difficult to diagnose them later.

For more information see: Removing Freckles, Laser Freckle Removal, & Choosing a Doctor

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Last Modified: September 07, 2007

Frequently Asked Questions
		What are Freckles?		Can Freckles be Cancerous?
		What Causes Freckles?		How Can I Prevent Them?
		What is Laser Freckle Removal?		What are melanocytes?
		How Can I Remove / Get Rid of Freckles?		What are keratinocytes?
		Does Tanning Cause Freckles?		What is melanin?

The information contained in the above article is purely for educational purposes and is not intended to provide any medical advice. Always consult with your physician before having any medical procedure performed.