New Freckles Appearing: What to Know

Freckles are small, flat areas of increased pigment. They may become more noticeable after everyday light exposure, even when you have not had a sunburn. Genetics can make some skin more prone to freckling. Medicines, hormonal changes, and other pigment conditions can also alter the appearance of spots. A freckle is usually uniform in colour and fairly even in shape, while a mark that is very dark, varied in colour, raised, or unlike the others needs a closer look. A photograph taken in good light can help you compare its size and appearance over time.

Use broad-spectrum sunscreen on exposed skin, seek shade, and add clothing or a hat when outdoors. Do not scratch, pick, bleach, or use strong fading products on an unidentified spot. Note when you first saw it and whether it changes in outline, colour, surface, or sensation. A dermatologist can examine the mark with magnification and decide whether monitoring or another assessment is appropriate. If you are considering cosmetic treatment after a diagnosis, options may include an [IPL Photofacial](/treatments/laser-and-energy/ipl-photofacial/) or [Picosecond Laser Treatment](/treatments/laser-and-energy/picosecond-laser-treatment/), depending on the diagnosis and your skin type.

Arrange a dermatology review for a spot that is changing, asymmetrical, has an irregular edge, contains several colours, bleeds, crusts, becomes persistently itchy, or does not heal. Seek prompt medical advice if a mark changes quickly or sits beneath a nail or on a palm or sole. These features do not diagnose cancer, but they make an in-person examination more useful than relying on photographs alone.

Could this be a freckle or another type of pigmented mark? What changes should I record? Should it be photographed or examined again? Would treatment be suitable after the diagnosis?