Skin tone isn't always even. Several factors and developments in the skin can influence darkening or lightening of the skin and change its appearance. Two such conditions are melasma and freckles. These skin developments---which cause dark spots of pigmentation to occur on sections of the skin---are similar, but they have different origins.
Melasma
Melasma is a skin condition that causes brown or gray blotches to appear on the skin, often on the face. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it can also develop on the forearms and the neck. Melasma typically only develops in women, but 10 percent of cases occur in men. Melasma is also more common in individuals with darker skin. Its cause is unknown, but heredity seems to play a role in its development.
Freckles
Freckles develop when pigment produced in the skin coagulates, forming clusters of pigment in the uppermost layers of your skin. These freckles can develop at an early age and are often hereditary. People with lighter skin tones tend to have more freckles. These markings are harmless and can appear all over the skin. In most people freckles are permanent.
Sun Exposure
Sun exposure has a significant impact on your skin and pigment production. According to the Riverside Health System, freckles often develop on skin that has been exposed to sunlight. Sun exposure also triggers the appearance melasma, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, but the sun's rays are not the cause of the condition.
Similarities
Melasma and freckles do not cause each another or have the same cause, but both have similar effects on the skin. Both cause darkening of the skin in places, although the blotches of melasma are much larger than isolated freckles. Both conditions can be hereditary, and both are the result of overproduction of pigment in the skin. Freckles and melasma can also be treated with several topical treatments designed to remove the top layers of skin and restore normal skin tone.
Considerations
Wearing sunscreen and protecting your skin from the sun can reduce the development and severity of freckles, and it may help combat melasma as well. If you are interested in removing the pigmentation on the skin related to these conditions, you may want to consult a doctor or dermatologist. Procedures such as chemical peels, dermabrasion and laser treatments can help fade and eliminate some of these markings.
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