Freckles are the CUTEST!

TotalANXiousNESS said:

On some people, yes. I agree.

But mine aren't cute.

get an umbrella.

or giant floppy french sun hat with big gawdy fake flowers on it!

it's time for the big hat

XxAxX said:

You know, I think you're right.

I need a big hat to go with my big sunglasses.

horatio said:

You may be on to something...


Or maybe I should just never go outside again.

Be careful....keep an eye on the large ones.

I'm going to go see a derm for a full body scan, I'm as fair as fair can be.

gemini13 said:

How do you keep an eye on the large ones? I'm honestly COVERED in freckles. Always have been, other than my face for the last, oh, 10 years. I wouldn't be able to keep track!

You know, I do my best. I really, really do. I wear sunblock on my face 365 days a year.

My arms and shoulders are covered in freckles and those are never going away. I've come to terms with that.

But I'd all but gotten rid of the ones on my face for YEARS. They had faded pretty much into nothing. Now they've decided to start coming back. But not quite in a cute little orphan annie freckle face way, more in a blotchy we're-going-to-just-barely-color-in-and-make-it-look-like-you-have-an-uneven-skin-tone kinda way.

And not just a sprinkle across my nose, they're sprouting up on my chest as well.

I know it's all the time I've been spending outside walking round the lake. Cursed lake!! Cursed sun!!

So who's got freckles? Any tips to get them to fade faster?

CarrieMpls said:

I'm in the same boat. They are called age spots honey. I hate them too. I am like you I wear 30 spf every day no matter what. Gosh, I don't think I've left the house without sunscreen on in years. My skin is very clear, but it looks somewhat splotchy. Not too bad. I take a lot of medicines for migraines and some of them warn to stay out of the sun. My skin is more prone to spots because of the medicine. They were really noticeable earlier in the summer when I was in the pool constantly. Now that I haven't been in a while they are fading again. I'm thinking of going to a dermatologist to see what I can do. I wonder about those lightening creams, but I don't want to look like Michael Jackson.

CarrieMpls said:

Be suspicious of any kind of irregularity in the shape of them. Any kind of pearl like bumps are especially dangerous and deadly in some instances. If I could, I would take back all of the time I spent in the sun.

Are they freckles or liver (age) spots ?

Liver spots are flat brown-black spots that usually occur in sun-exposed areas of the body. They are also called age spots. They are unrelated to the liver or liver function.

Liver spots are changes in skin color associated with older skin. The increased pigmentation may be brought on by aging, exposure to sun or other forms of ultraviolet light, or other unknown causes.

Liver spots are extremely common after the age of 40. They occur most often on the backs of the hands, on the forearms, shoulder, face, and forehead, areas of highest sun exposure.

They are harmless and painless, but they may affect the cosmetic appearance. Occasionally, liver spots may obscure the diagnosis of skin cancers.

No treatment is needed in most cases. The cosmetic appearance of your skin may be improved by the use of skin bleaching lotions or creams.

Are they freckles or liver (age) spots ?

Liver spots are flat brown-black spots that usually occur in sun-exposed areas of the body. They are also called age spots. They are unrelated to the liver or liver function.

Liver spots are changes in skin color associated with older skin. The increased pigmentation may be brought on by aging, exposure to sun or other forms of ultraviolet light, or other unknown causes.

Liver spots are extremely common after the age of 40. They occur most often on the backs of the hands, on the forearms, shoulder, face, and forehead, areas of highest sun exposure.

They are harmless and painless, but they may affect the cosmetic appearance. Occasionally, liver spots may obscure the diagnosis of skin cancers.

No treatment is needed in most cases. The cosmetic appearance of your skin may be improved by the use of skin bleaching lotions or creams.

Are they freckles or liver (age) spots ?

Liver spots are flat brown-black spots that usually occur in sun-exposed areas of the body. They are also called age spots. They are unrelated to the liver or liver function.

Liver spots are changes in skin color associated with older skin. The increased pigmentation may be brought on by aging, exposure to sun or other forms of ultraviolet light, or other unknown causes.

Liver spots are extremely common after the age of 40. They occur most often on the backs of the hands, on the forearms, shoulder, face, and forehead, areas of highest sun exposure.

They are harmless and painless, but they may affect the cosmetic appearance. Occasionally, liver spots may obscure the diagnosis of skin cancers.

No treatment is needed in most cases. The cosmetic appearance of your skin may be improved by the use of skin bleaching lotions or creams.

My first bf had auburn/brown hair that would fade to a brownish kinda blonde over summer.
Crazy for surfing, swimming, sailing, he used to be out in the sun alot and he'd be COVERED in freckles. To me, they breathe sexiness, but I canunderstand that if you are teased because of them in the past, they might seem irritating to most.

I would go over the freckles on his nose, cheekbones and neck/shoulders, but then again, that's me, and I have never been in love the way I was with him.

I loved his attitude towards having freckles, though. He loved them as much as I did; one evening in summer I played 'connect the dots' on his back. Although he liked it less when he found out I had done it with unwashable ink.

Melasma

Alternative names

Chloasma; Mask of pregnancy; Pregnancy mask
Definition
Melasma is a dark skin discoloration found on sun-exposed areas of the face.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Melasma is a very common skin disorder. Though it can affect anyone, young women with brownish skin tones are at greatest risk.

Melasma is often associated with the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. It is especially common in pregnant women, women who are taking oral contraceptives ("the pill"), and women taking hormone replacement therapy during menopause.

Sun exposure is also a strong risk factor for melasma. It is particularly common in tropical climates.

Symptoms
Melasma doesn't cause any other symptoms besides skin discoloration but may be of great cosmetic concern.

A uniform brown color is usually seen over the cheeks, forehead, nose, or upper lip. It is most often symmetrical (matching on both sides of the face).

Signs and tests
Your health care provider can usually diagnose melasma based upon the appearance of your skin. A closer examination using a Wood's lamp may help guide your treatment.

Treatment
Creams containing tretinoin, kojic acid, and azelaic acid have been shown to improve the appearance of melasma. Occasionally, your doctor may recommend chemical peels or topical steroid creams. In severe cases, laser treatments can be used to remove the dark pigment.

Avoiding the sun and using sunscreen are key to preventing melasma.

Expectations (prognosis)
Melasma often fades over several months after stopping oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy or after delivering a child. It may return with additional pregnancies or use of these medications.

Calling your health care provider
Call your health care provider if you have persistent darkening of your face.

Prevention
Daily sunscreen use not only helps prevent melasma but is crucial in the prevention of skin cancer and wrinkles.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/me...000836.htm
[Edited 8/7/07 10:59am]

OK, ya'll are freaking me out now. I've always had nice skin and I take care of it very well and now I'm all worried that something's seriously wrong with it.

Hydroquinone has been a very popular treatment, however it can
irritate the skin.
Kojic acid, discovered in Japan in 1989, is a natural product
derived from fungi (mushroom). It is gentle on the skin and very
effective in treating skin discoloration. Penetrating upper skin
layers, it inhibits the formation of the pigment.
Alpha-hydroxy acids help to shed old cells faster, therefore they
will be helpful as well. By removing the outer skin cells, which are
usually darker, you will make your freckles or age spots lighter and
less visible.

“How can freckles be treated?

To treat freckles that are already present, several safe and effective
methods are available:
1. Bleaching creams -- Products containing hydroquinone and kojic acid
can be purchased without a prescription. Higher concentrations of
hydroquinone (over 2%) require a prescription. These products can
lighten freckles if they are applied consistently over a period of
months.
2. Tretinoin -- Sometimes used in conjunction with other bleaching
creams, tretinoin (vitamin A acid, Retin-A) also helps to make
freckles lighter when applied over a period of time.
3. Cryosurgery -- A light freeze with liquid nitrogen can be used to
treat freckles.
4. Laser treatment -- Several lasers, especially ones that produce a
green light, can lighten and eliminate freckles safely and
effectively. Like cryosurgery, this is a simple and safe procedure
with a high success rate and a low risk of scarring.