The medical terms for various types of freckles are ephelids, lentigoes or lentigines. They are simply tan, brown or black flat spots that appear over time on areas of skin that have been exposed to the sun. Freckles are common among those with lighter skin who sunburn easily. Age spots, of course, usually appear later in life and occur in all skin types. Age spots are collections of the skin pigment, melanin, which have accumulated within the top (epidermal) layer of the skin, the epidermis. Freckles and age spots are commonly found on the face and hands, or any other part of the body that has been overexposed to the sun.

Sun exposure is also powerful enough to change certain skin cells into dangerous skin cancers, leading physicians to recommend protective sunscreen and clothing. These actions can also help slow the appearance of both freckles and age spots. For those who already have any brown, discolored lesions, an in-depth consultation should be scheduled with a physician. He or she will perform a careful examination to determine that these spots are not pre-cancerous.

Freckles and age spots are among the many signs of photoaging. Photoaging occurs when chronic and excessive sun exposure speeds the skin's natural aging process. In addition to freckles and age spots, photoaged skin may also show signs of mottled pigmentation, surface roughness, fine lines and wrinkles and dilated or broken blood vessels.

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