• Question: Why do i have freckles?

    Asked by iluvdanny44 to Amy, Karen, Sarah, Will on 20 Jun 2012. This question was also asked by ciaralydon, kickass.
    • Photo: Amy Birch

      Amy Birch answered on 20 Jun 2012:

      Hi iluvdanny44,
      Freckles are caused by melanin in the skin. Not all cells in our skin produce melanin, only cells called melanocytes do. Some people have these melanocytes spread evenly across the skin, and some people have them bunched together. If they are bunched together, then when you go out in the sun, the melanocytes produce more melanin which makes freckles appear. No-one really knows why some people have more bunched melanocytes than others, but there is a gene that is linked to having red hair which seems to also be linked to having freckles.
      I am very fair and blonde, and I have lots of freckles so it can’t be all about the gene for red hair! I even have freckles on my toes! 🙂

    • Photo: Sarah Martin

      Sarah Martin answered on 20 Jun 2012:

      Hi iluvdanny44!

      Freckles can be found in lots of people, no matter what their skin colour is, but it is genetic and related to a variation in a gene called the melanocortin-1 receptor MC1R. The formation of freckles is triggered by exposure to sunlight, which activates melanocytes to increase melanin production, which can cause freckles to become darker.

      I do too!
      🙂 Sarah

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