What causes freckles? Is it in the Gene?

From what I've been told they are sunspots... I think it's weird because people who aren't in the sun that much still have them! When I'm in the sun, I definately have more of them!

It may seem odd to include freckles among the "Diseases and Conditions" section in that freckles are of no medical consequence. However, freckles may cause considerable confusion that may be of medical importance. What are freckles? Freckles are flat, circular spots that typically range in the size of the head of a nail. The spots develop randomly on the skin, especially after repeated exposure to sunlight and particularly in persons of fair complexion. Freckles vary in color -- they may be red, yellow, tan, light-brown, brown, or black -- but they are always darker than the skin around them since they are due to deposits of the dark pigment called melanin. The word "freckle" comes from the Middle English "freken," which, in turn, came from the Old Norse "freknur," meaning "freckled." (Some speakers of Old English and Old Norse must have had a tendency to developing freckles.) What types of freckles are there? There are two basic types of freckles -- both with somewhat strange names -- ephelides and lentigines: 1. Ephelides (singular: ephelis, the Greek word for freckle): This term refers to flat spots that are red or light-brown and typically appear during the sunny months and fade in the winter. They are most often found in people with light complexions and in some families, they are an hereditary (genetic) trait. The regular use of sunscreen during times of sun exposure helps to suppress the appearance of the ephelis-type freckle. 2. Lentigines (singular: lentigo, from the Latin word for lentil): Children may develop a small tan, brown, or black spot which tends to be darker than an ephelis-type freckle and which does not fade in the winter. This kind of spot is referred to as lentigo simplex. Although occasionally lentigines are part of a rare genetic syndrome, for the most part they are just isolated and unimportant spots. What are "liver spots" or "age spots"? The lentigines that develop in older adults are often called "liver spots" or "age spots." Both terms are misnomers. While freckles do tend to appear over time, they are not in themselves a sign of old age. Instead, they appear on sun-exposed areas in people who have a genetic tendency to develop them. So, they are by no means purely a function of age. The term "liver spots" is entirely misleading. These spots have nothing whatsoever to do with the liver. They are just the lentigo-type freckles that are commonly seen in older people who are or who have been out in the sun without sufficient sunscreen. Source: http://www.answers.com/freckles?initiator=IE7:SearchBox

freckles is hereditary. it's in the family's genes. but you don't need to worry much about it these days since there are lots of ways to get rid of it. better yet, you go to a well known dermatologist and ask your doctor on how to get rid of it.

As far as I know it's genetics because my husbands has them on his arms just like his mother does.

It is a combination of the melanin in your skin and sun exposure. Some fair complexion people have them without going in the sun due to an over abundant supply of melanin. Predisposition is genetic.

I think it's both genitics & sun exposure. Some people are born with them, & some don't get them untill they spend too much time in the sun.

i think you are born with them.