| Freckle | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Ephelides, ephelis |
 | |
| Slight facial freckles on a child | |
| Specialty | Dermatology |
Freckles are clusters of concentrated melaninized cells which are most easily visible on people with a fair complexion. Freckles do not have an increased number of the melanin-producing cells, or melanocytes, but instead have melanocytes that overproduce melanin granules (melanosomes) changing the coloration of the outer skin cells (keratinocytes). As such, freckles are different from lentigines and moles,[1] which are caused by accumulation of melanocytes in a small area. Freckles can appear on all types of skin tones. Of the six Fitzpatrick skin types, they are most common on skin tones 1 and 2, which usually belong to North Europeans. However, it can also be found on people all over the world. In England a historical term for freckles is summer-voys,[2] sometimes spelt summervoise, which may be related to the German term Sommersprossen.
- ^ Kumar, Vinay, ed. (2005). Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (7th ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders. p. 1232. ISBN 0-8089-2302-1.
- ^ "Possible medical facial blemish or condition unknown term".