HEALTH

 

Summer means spending more time in the sun—and that's great for your physical, mental and emotional health because your body loves soaking up all that Vitamin D. And it shows in the new freckles sprouting on your cheeks. Aside from being absolutely adorable, freckles are a great indicator of how your skin reacts to sunlight exposure. They show how well melanin is distributed throughout your skin and how susceptible you are to sunburns, skin damage and even skin cancer.

Melanin is a pigment in your skin and how much you have determines how you process melanocytes. Melanocytes distribute more evenly the more melanin you have in your skin, making you a shade darker. Lighter skinned people have less melanin, so it's common for the melanocytes to clump together, forming freckles. So, what does this mean? Are freckles dangerous? Not exactly.

It's important to know the difference between freckles and moles. Freckles are small tan or light brown spots, and they often appear on the face, shoulders and arms. They're close to the surface of the skin, unlike moles. Moles are pigmented skin cells residing deeper in the skin in something called the dermis. They can exist at birth or appear later in life, and can be flat, raised or rough. 

 

There are several types of moles, and it's important to identify whether mole on your skin are safe or early signs of skin cancer (like this girl did!). An easy way to detect whether or not your moles are normal is by remembering your ABCDE's. If a mole has any of these qualities you should get it checked by a dermatologist or doctor immediately.

Monthly body checks are important to maintain good health and make sure your moles are *just* moles. Share these charts with your family and friends to raise awareness for undetected skin cancer, and always use sunscreen and protective gear when you're outside.

Do you have freckles or moles? Let us know how you cover up in the sun and share your best sunscreen tips in the comments! 

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Photo credit: Instagram.

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by Julia Bonney | 5/26/2017