Freckles: A Comprehensive Guide To These Tiny Dotted Wonders

Gone are the days where women would blur their freckles with layers upon layers of concealer and foundation. These tiny dotted wonders have made a serious comeback over the past few years, and are in fact, celebrated for their imperfect beauty. Whether you’ve decided to jump on the current trend or would rather find comfort in having porcelain skin, we’re here to give you a brief lowdown on everything you need to know about freckles.

How Freckles Are Formed

Some say freckles come from the kiss of an angel, and whilst many of us would like to think that’s how they came to be, there are two scientifically backed sources that explain how freckles are developed: genes and the sun.

Getting down to the nitty-gritty, freckles are essentially small, concentrated areas of pigment called melanin. In most people, the melanocytes (cells that produce melanin) are evenly spread out throughout their skin. Those who possess freckled skin, however, have these melanocytes in clusters, giving rise to these emblematic tanned spots.

These clusters didn’t come out of nowhere either. Genetic markers have been linked to the behaviour of these melanocytes, with the well-known ones being DEF8, HERC2, OCA2 and MC1R. These four genes are linked to the production of pigment, and a genetic variant is all it takes for freckles to appear – but not necessarily so. Inheritance of freckles is a complex one; some genetic combinations give freckles, and some don’t. Moreover, their numbers are not predetermined by these genetic codes. Freckles typically appear in childhood, and their numbers can increase in adolescence or they may also disappear with age.

Apart from genetics, freckles can come about due to sun exposure. The skin produces extra melanin to protect the skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, and the build-up of melanin on the skin’s outer layer will develop into freckles.

Are Freckles Dangerous?

Whilst freckles themselves are not inherently dangerous, those with freckles generally have skin that is much more sensitive to sunlight than most. As such, one should take extra precaution and take necessary steps to protect their skin from the sun, lest they develop photoaging and photodamage, or worse, skin cancer.

Freckles are often diagnosed on their clinical appearance. On occasion, it may be difficult to differentiate an irregular freckle from melanoma, a potentially dangerous form of skin cancer. If there is any doubt whether a brown mark may be malignant, the lesion may be monitored or excised for pathological examination. If you notice changes in size, shape, or colour of a freckle, be sure to head down to a dermatologist for a diagnosis.

Prevention And Treatment Tips For Freckles

If you’ve decided that the freckled-frenzy trend is not for you, then know that there are ways to mitigate its numbers and treat its appearance.

Preventing Freckles

Not all skin hyperpigmentation can be prevented, but you can reduce and minimise the number of new freckles with careful sun protection. Make it a habit to slather on layers of sunscreen that has SPF50+ and good broad spectrum cover. Take it up a notch and opt for sun-protective clothing when you’re out in the sun.

Treating Freckles

1. Anti-Aging And Fading Creams

In addition to careful sun protection, regular application of anti-ageing or fading creams will help improve its appearance. Skincare products that feature hydroquinone and antioxidants, such as retinoids, niacinamide, vitamin C and E, in their ingredient list can help curb melanin production and thus, reduce the appearance of freckles.

2. Chemical Peels

A chemical peel is a technique that involves applying a chemical solution to the skin, and making it eventually peel off. On top of removing several layers of sun-damaged and dead skin cells, chemical peels formulated with lightening chemical agents will remove the skin pigment melanin, effectively lightening any dark spots.

Your dermatologist will clean the affected area before applying the peeling gel. After several minutes, the peel is then neutralised to remove the chemical solution. Once the treatment is done, you can expect mild redness and occasional swelling for the next 48 hours.

3. Aesthetic Lasers

Aesthetic lasers generate invisible light energy that helps to treat a variety of skin problems, including freckles. The light energy will be absorbed into the skin, creating a “photoacoustic” effect that will effectively break up the pigmentation into small particles. These particles will then be ejected from the body as waste material.

PicoWay

Not quite like the other laser technologies in the market, PicoWay laser is an innovative dual-wavelength laser that distributes ultra-short picosecond bursts of energy directly to the skin tissue.

The PicoWay system boasts flexible treatment parameters that allow dermatologists to control its fluence, wavelength, repetition rate and spot size to cater and best tackle your skin issue. Its ultra-short picosecond pulses are also 100 times shorter than their Q-switch counterparts, effectively minimising the risk of unwanted side-effects, such as scarring. This, along with its extensive skin treatment palette, makes it the go-to laser procedure for treating all skin tones, even those with more melanin! With just a few sessions, you’ll notice a difference in not just your skin tone, but also skin texture and colouration.

PicoSure

As the world’s first picosecond aesthetic laser, PicoSure has made a groundbreaking contribution to laser technology. With a pulse width that is 100 times shorter than nanosecond technology, PicoSure laser is able to deliver a photoacoustic impact that allows for better and effective clearance.

Pico laser treatments have become one of the go-to cosmetic treatments to treat a myriad of skin issues – and it’s no wonder why. Apart from their efficacy, they also pose little to no side effects, which translates to negligible downtime. You can quite literally resume your activities after a treatment or two!

Final Thoughts

Regardless of the trends of society, always bear in mind that beauty is about you and what you make of it. Of course, if you don’t wish to jump on the beauty trend bandwagon, that’s fine too!

At Angeline Yong Dermatology Clinic, we put your beauty wants and needs as our priority. We aim to deliver tailored solutions that can treat your skin issues, so that you can leave our establishment with newfound confidence.

Dr. Angeline Yong is an esteemed dermatologist in Singapore that has amassed over 15 years of medical practice, and takes pride in providing signature personalised care to every patient. In addition to being a global faculty for multiple aesthetic laser devices, Dr Yong is also a highly-esteemed opinion leader in aesthetic dermatology products and laser devices – including PicoSure laser.

Leave your skin issues to the experts! Let us journey with you as you take the next few steps towards spotless, younger-looking skin!

References

Huu, S. N., Van, C. L., Van, T. N., Manh, T. N., Minh, P. P. T., Hong, S. N., … & Lotti, T. (2019). Successful Treatment of Freckles by Alex Trivantage Laser Wavelight 755 nm in Vietnamese Patients. Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences, 7(2), 287.

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Freckles: A Comprehensive Guide To These Tiny Dotted Wonders