Freckle

Freckles (Greek ἔφηλις - Ephelis, in the plural ephelides of gr epi - ἐπί " at " and Helios - ἥλιος "sun", also summer spots in Austria also Gugerschecken or gazers Check in Switzerland also Märzen or deciduous spots) are small yellowish and brownish spots on the skin that occur particularly in people with blond and red hair and very fair complexion.

It involves pigment deposits, mainly in the skin exposed to sunlight, so usually in the summer, arise. In some people, they pale in winter or disappear entirely.

Freckles are caused by melanocytes, which produce melanin increases (hyperpigmentation ). This melanin is stored in the surrounding keratinocytes for some time. In contrast to liver spots, it is not a local reproduction of the melanocytes in freckles.

Freckles are a normal variant. You probably caused by congenital genetic variants in the melanocortin -1 receptor, which is also blamed for skin and hair color. Because above all, light skin and hair types are concerned, there is often a carrier for freckles special medical recommendation for sun protection and sun avoidance.

Freckles can rarely, usually in combination with other lesions, a symptom of a systemic disease, the NAME syndrome be.