LifestyleSkinSome love the look freckles give so much that they add them onto their own skin with make-up14:05, 12 Jul 2026Updated 16:45, 13 Jul 2026Have you ever wondered why some people get freckles while others don't? You're not the only one. Even some people who have freckles have no idea what causes them, or why they get darker over the summer months.‌Freckles are small, flat, tan or light-brown spots on the skin that are genetic and caused by an overproduction of melanin, the pigment responsible for skin and hair colour. They are completely harmless and appear on sun-exposed areas like the face and shoulders.‌Some people love the look freckles give so much, that they add them onto their own skin with make-up in the summer months. Some beauty brands have even created entire products around adding fake freckles to your face.‌'Cure' for grey hair close, first artificial cells created, humans and Neanderthals lived together, the world's fastest spider, and a ‘once-in-a-millennium’ chance to see an asteroid - all this and more in our weird science newsletterUK-based General Practitioner (GP) Dr. Sermed Mezher explained exactly why freckles appear and what causes them.Why do freckles appear on faces in summer?He said: "There are different types of freckles, solo lentigenes, which people develop throughout their lifetime and can be a sign of photo damage of the skin.‌"But the ones that people are generally talking about are the ones in people with lighter skin, red hair, ginger, and those are called effolidies.Content cannot be displayed without consent"They form as somebody is developing throughout their childhood. Those conventional freckles are also triggered by sun exposure, but why do some people get them and others don't?‌"Well, because of variations in the MC1R melanocortin gene. This variant tends to cause melanin to clump rather than form an even tan, so when exposed - leads to increased freckles that tend to fade throughout the winter months."Can freckles be removed?Despite many people loving their freckles and embracing them in the summer months, others may be looking for ways to make them less prominent on their face.Cleveland Clinic said freckles can’t be completely removed, but can be lightened with topical products, lasers and cryotherapy. The recommended speaking to a dermatologist to discuss the best treatment options.Article continues belowFreckles can also be prevented by protecting your skin from sunlight by applying SPF 30 or higher suncream, wearing a wide-brimmed hat with sunglasses and avoiding peak UV hours between 10am and 4pm.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Healthy LifeSkinSkin careWeather