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freckle

 
Dictionary: freck·le   (frĕk'əl) pronunciation
n.
A small brownish spot on the skin, often turning darker or increasing in number upon exposure to the sun.

tr. & intr.v., -led, -ling, -les.
To dot or become dotted with freckles or spots of color.

[From Middle English frakles, freckles, alteration of fraknes, probably of Scandinavian origin, akin to Old Icelandic freknōttr, freckly.]

freckly freck'ly adj.

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Facial freckles on a child.

Freckles are clusters of concentrated melanin which are most often visible on people with a fair complexion. A freckle is also called an "ephelis".

Contents

Biology

Freckles can be found on anyone no matter their genetic background; however, having freckles is genetic and is related to the presence of the dominant melanocortin-1 receptor MC1R gene variant.[1] The formation of freckles is triggered by exposure to sunlight. The exposure to UV-B radiation activates melanocytes to increase melanin production, which can cause freckles to become darker.

Freckles are predominantly found on the face, although they may appear on any skin exposed to the sun, such as the shoulders. Freckles are rare on infants, and more commonly found on children before puberty.

Women with many freckles. Freckles are genetically inherited and related to the presence of the MC1R gene variant.

Upon exposure to the sun, freckles will reappear if they have been altered with creams or lasers and not protected from the sun, but do however fade with age in some cases.

Freckles are not a skin disorder. People with freckles usually have a lower concentration of photoprotective melanin and are therefore more susceptible to the harmful effects of UV-radiation. An overexposure of UV-radiation should be avoided. Sunscreen has been suggested.[2] [3]

Types of freckles

Ephelides is a genetic trait. It is used to describe a freckle which is flat, light brown or red, and fades in the winter. Ephelides are more common in those with light complexions, although they are found on people with a variety of skin tones. The regular use of sunblock can inhibit their development.

Liver spots (also known as sun spots and Lentigines) are freckles that may not fade in the winter. Rather, they form after years of exposure to the sun. Lentigines are more common in older people.

See also

References

  1. ^ Online 'Mendelian Inheritance in Man' (OMIM) 266300
  2. ^ Hanson Kerry M.; Gratton Enrico; Bardeen Christopher J. (2006). "Sunscreen enhancement of UV-induced reactive oxygen species in the skin". Free Radical Biology and Medicine 41 (8): 1205–12. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2006.06.011. PMID 17015167. 
  3. ^ Garland C, Garland F, Gorham E (1992). "Could sunscreens increase melanoma risk?". Am J Public Health 82 (4): 614–5. doi:10.2105/AJPH.82.4.614. PMID 1546792. http://www.ajph.org/cgi/reprint/82/4/614. 
  • Millington GWM. (2006) Proopiomelanocortin (POMC): the cutaneous roles of its melanocortin products and receptors. Clin Exp Dermatol 31: 407-412.

External links


Translations: Freckle
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Dansk (Danish)
n. - fregne
v. tr. - gøre fregnet
v. intr. - få fregner

Nederlands (Dutch)
sproet, besproeten, vlekjes maken op, besproet worden

Français (French)
n. - tache de rousseur
v. tr. - marquer (qn, la peau) de taches de rousseur
v. intr. - se couvrir de taches de rousseur

Deutsch (German)
n. - Sommersprosse
v. - Sommersprossen bekommen

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (φυσιολ.) εφηλίς (κν. φακίδα, πιτσιλάδα)
v. - εμφανίζω ή αποκτώ φακίδες

Italiano (Italian)
lentiggine, efelide

Português (Portuguese)
n. - sarda (f)
v. - encher-se de sardas

Русский (Russian)
веснушка

Español (Spanish)
n. - peca
v. tr. - motear
v. intr. - ponerse pecoso

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - fräkne
v. - få fräknar

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
雀斑, 斑点, 使生雀斑, 生雀斑

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 雀斑, 斑點
v. tr. - 使生雀斑
v. intr. - 生雀斑

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 주근깨, 작은 반점
v. tr. - 주근깨 등을 생기게 하다
v. intr. - 주근깨 생기다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - そばかす
v. - そばかすができる

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) نمش , كلف (فعل) ينمش , يبقع‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮בהרת-קיץ, נמש‬
v. tr. - ‮טבע נמשים‬
v. intr. - ‮קיבל נמשים‬


 
 

 

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
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