Ephelis

What is an ephelis?

An ephelis is a freckle, a small light brown or tan mark on the skin.

The plural of ephelis is ephelides. It can be hundreds or thousands of them in exposed skin.

Who gets ephelides?

Ephelides are particularly common in Celtic children with light skin. They are not present at birth. People with white skin who cannot tan (Fitzpatrick skin phototype 1) often have red hair and numerous ephelides. Ephelides can also occur in other breeds that have dark brown or black hair.

What causes ephelides?

Ephelides are an inherited characteristic. People with many ephelides have at least one copy of an MC1R variant. gene, which is the same variant that causes red hair. Freckles in non-Caucasians are associated with a different variant of the gene.

the pigment-former cells, melanocytes, they produce more pigment than usual in ephelides. The pigment is packaged as melanosomes and distributed to the surroundings keratinocytes.

Ephelides increase in number after exposure to Ultraviolet radiation at the light of the sun

What are the clinical characteristics of ephelides?

Ephelides are found in places exposed to the sun, particularly on the nose and cheeks.

• They are prominent in the summer and fade in the winter.
• Light to dark brown plane macules
• 3–10 mm diameter
• Poorly defined and can merge into large patches
• Any way; often round

Complications of the ephelides.

People with ephelides are often fair skinned. Light skin is prone to larger, sun-damaged freckles called lentiginesas well as other signs of skin aging, including skin Cancer.

How is an ephelis diagnosed?

Ephelides are generally diagnosed clinically. Occasionally, however, the diagnosis is made by a histopathologist after the skin. biopsy of a pigmented injury.

• An increase in pigment is noted in normal skin
• There is no increase in the number of melanocytes (unlike lentigines)

What is the treatment for ephelides?

No treatment is necessary. Occasionally, people seek treatment for ephelides. They may be advised to protect the affected areas using a broad spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 50+.

• Cosmetic camouflage can be applied to disguise ephelides

• Pigment To be treatment can cause temporary lightening of freckles

How can ephelides be prevented?

Since they are a legacy feature, they cannot be prevented. However, summer darkening can be reduced with careful sun protection.

What is the outlook for ephelides?

Ephelides are particularly prominent in children. They often become less obvious in adulthood.