What are freckles and how are they caused?
Freckles are clusters of the pigment melanin. This is produced by melanocytes deep in the skin, with greater concentrations giving rise to darker skin tones, and hence ethnicity. Melanin protects the skin against harmful ultraviolet sunlight, but is also found in other locations around the body, such as the brain. Freckles are mostly genetically inherited, but not always. They become more prominent during sunlight exposure because the melanocytes are triggered to increase production of melanin, leading to a darker complexion. People with freckles generally have pale skin tones, and if they stay in the sunlight for too long they can damage their skin cells, leading to skin cancers like melanoma.