What is the difference between a freckle and a mole?
From the Mayo Clinic website: Both freckles and moles are pigmented spots on the skin. Your skin contains cells called melanocytes, which make melanin, the substance that gives your skin its color. Freckles and moles are areas of increased melanin in the skin. A freckle (ephelis) is an increase in pigment in the innermost (basal) layer of the epidermis, which is the top layer of skin. People aren’t born with freckles. They develop in childhood and in later years as a result of repeated sun exposure. Freckles occur primarily in sun-exposed areas such as the nose and shoulders. It’s thought that freckling is a protective mechanism of the skin. Freckles are especially common in people with fair complexions. Heredity likely also influences freckling. Freckles are superficial and usually don’t need removal. They’re not associated with cancer. But people with fair complexions are at increased risk of skin cancer with excessive sun exposure. A mole (nevus) is a small cluster of melanocytes (n
