Tell me about freckles

[llareggub]

I'm fair-skinned, blue-eyed and so white I'm pretty blue at times. I am prone to freckles, and my arms are pretty covered in them.

My legs have stayed resolutely white through years of sun, although I am very good at wearing factor 85928592 suncream, staying in the shade etc. I have never been a sun worshipper.

Oddly I've developed an circular pattern of freckles on my thigh. I'm a bit bemused by this as my thighs are hardly ever exposed to the sun and the pattern is weirdly circular. They seem to have come from no where. DH reckons they've always been there but because I've lost loads of weight (5 dress sizes!) they just look different.

I don't know whether to be concerned or not. They just look odd because unlike my arms which are a freckle-fest, my legs are the opposite.

He then told me they might be age-related! Any thoughts? Do I need to worry?

I am ginger so have millions of freckles.
Never had any on my legs at all until I was in my 20's and then they suddenly appeared. Now I have a few more (nothing like my face or arms though) so I guess they must appear through age!
I quite like it as it makes me look less persil like!

Phew, thanks for that. So I don't have to worry?!

You only need be concerned about freckles if they get noticeably larger, if they protrude from the skin, change shape, change colour, begin to itch or start weeping. Then you'd need to talk to a doctor.

Regular freckles develop gradually as a response to sun exposure and, even though you don't display your thighs very often or sunbathe (smart move), the effect of any sunlight will accumulate over the course of time. In that respect, age plays a part. So don't worry.... you're perfectly normal.