What are freckles and skin moles?
Freckles are small usually pale brown areas of skin, which are often temporary and are usually caused by exposure to the sun. Moles are areas of darker pigmented (brown or brown/black) on the skin, they are long-lasting and are only indirectly associated with exposure to the sun. Both freckles and moles are very common in all peoples of the world but they are more obvious in people who have lighter coloured skin. There are rare types of freckles (usually clustered around the mouth) that are part of a genetic syndrome called Peutz Jegher’s Syndrome. These are quite easy for a doctor or dentist to diagnose in a person or family.
