It's estimated that somewhere around 80% of redheads have freckles, but did you know we aren't born with them? That's right! Babies are not born with freckles, even if they will end up with them later in life. Freckles usually start appearing sometime between two and four.
Because of the natural tanning reaction to the sun's ultraviolet light and high amounts of pheomelanin in the skin, freckles are a common but not universal feature of red-haired people.
The average age that children develop freckles is between two and four years old. “As kids get older, they start walking [on their own], doing more activities outdoors, and naturally have more sunlight exposure,” Teng tells Yahoo Parenting. This can trigger a smattering of freckles, particularly on children's faces.
Redheads have less melanin in their skin. Remember, melanin protects your skin from the UV rays and makes you look tan (when melanin spreads out evenly). Due to the low number of melanin, redheads develop freckles like crazy constellations rather than getting tan.
Age Spots and Freckles. Age spots, also called sun spots, freckles or solar lentigines, occur as a response to sun exposure over time. They are collectively given the name “age spots” because they are visible when one is in one's 40s or older.
Lighter Features and Freckles
“Having less melanin in your skin may also predispose you to premature aging due to photodamage,” says Dr. Preminger. “Rigorous sunblock application is so important in protecting skin from sun damage and photoaging.
Genetics and sun exposure are the primary causes of freckles. Some people are more likely to get freckles than others, depending on their genes and skin type. If a person is genetically more likely to develop freckles, exposure to sunlight can make them appear.
Most (natural) redheads will have brown eyes, followed by hazel or green shades.
Fun Facts About Freckles
Because they're often seen in people with red hair, freckles are commonly associated with Ireland and Scotland, where this hair color is common as well. But anyone can get freckles.
Recessive traits like red hair can skip generations because they can hide out in a carrier behind a dominant trait. The recessive trait needs another carrier and a bit of luck to be seen. This means that it can sometimes take a few generations to finally make its presence known.
Freckles or ephelides are hyperpigmented spots observed on skin surface mainly in European and Asian populations.
Besides, with hormonal changes, children's skin at puberty also begins to appear hyperpigmented spots, with the appearance of freckles and melasma.
Freckles are beautiful
Some of the world's most beautiful people also enjoy flaunting their freckles, so feel free to do the same.
Less than 2 percent of the world's population has red hair, making it the rarest hair color in the world. It's the result of the mutated MC1R gene. If both parents carry that gene, their child has a 25% chance of getting lovely, red locks, even if the parents don't have red hair themselves.
Research indicates that redheads have higher thresholds for pain and need less vitamin D than the rest of us thanks to the MC1R gene mutation, which gives their hair its hue.
According to Cartman (and thus adopted by society, obviously), a daywalker is a redhead who can handle being in the sun without stressing too much about getting burnt. They may or may not have freckles or pale skin, and generally have brown eyes.
Freckles often show up during childhood, and you may continue to get more until you're in your 20s. People with fair skin or red hair are most likely to have them. There are two types of freckles: ephelides and solar lentigines. Although both are flat spots, they're different in a few ways.
Freckles are extremely common and aren't a health threat. They're more often seen in the summer. You're more likely to have freckles if you're lighter-skinned and have blond or red hair. However, freckles can occur in anyone, and appear as darker brown spots if you have darker skin.
Previous studies had shown that redheads inherit two versions of the MC1R gene that leads to red hair – one from their mum and one from their dad. Although almost everyone with red hair has two copies of the red-haired version of MC1R, not everyone carrying two red-haired versions is a redhead.
Rarest kind of redhead
Having red hair and blue eyes is the rarest hair/eye color combination possible. The odds of a person having both of those recessive traits is around 0.17%. Instead, most redheads have brown, hazel or green eyes, according to Medical Daily.
The results showed the average IQ of blonde-haired women was 103.2, 102.7 for brown hair, 101.2 for red hair and 100.5 for black hair. However, the differences were so small as to be unlikely to represent a real difference.
And the statistics bear that stereotype out. Ireland has the highest per capita percentage of redheads in the world -- anywhere from 10 to 30 percent, according to Eupedia, a website that explores European genetics and ancestry.
Your skin can develop new spots after sun exposure. Or an old freckle or mole that's looked the same for years can suddenly change in size, shape or color. You have to be familiar with the spots on your skin to catch these changes.
Freckles actually serve a purpose. In a way, they act like sun screens and are a natural way to block the UV rays from penetrating the deeper layers of the skin. They are not a sign of sun damage, but rather protect areas of the skin that are particularly sensitive to ultraviolet light.
Ephelides: These freckles form as a result of sun exposure and sunburns. They can appear on anyone who doesn't protect themselves from UV rays. They show up on your face, the back of your hands, and upper body.