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Hello and welcome to Dr. Mercola's Cellular Wisdom. I'm Ethan Foster, and today we're

exploring freckles,

sunspots, and moles, those little marks many of us notice in the mirror. These skin spots can

reveal important details about your health, so it's crucial to recognize which ones might need

extra attention. Joining me is Alara Sky. She has a deep interest in natural approaches to health, and her goal

today is to help break down what each of these spots means. Let's begin with what makes freckles,

sunspots, and moles distinct. Thank you, Ethan. When people see small, flat, light brown spots on

sun-exposed areas that tend to darken in summer and lighten in winter.

Those are usually freckles. Sun spots, on the other hand, don't fade seasonally.

They often appear on the hands, face, and chest, places that get a lot of sun exposure,

and they indicate signs of sun damage over time. Moles can be flat or raised, vary in color from tan to dark brown,

and sometimes have hair. They appear in different places, not just where you get the most sun.

Freckles can be a bit confusing because they come and go with the seasons, whereas sunspots and

moles generally stay put. Would you explain why freckles shift like that?

Freckles are strongly influenced by genetics and sun exposure. Fair-skinned individuals and those

with a family history of freckles are more likely to have them. Freckles typically become

darker with frequent sun exposure, which is why they're more noticeable in the summer, and then

they fade in winter when

sun exposure is reduced. They appear less in newborns and start to show up in childhood

...