Most of us have freckles on our body, those small dots of slightly darker skin which are most common on the face, neck and shoulders. However, for some of us, freckles can be a burden. Some people can have such an excess of freckles that they feel it takes over their image in a negative way. So what are freckles and how can we deal with them?

Freckles on your body are small patches where the skin produces excess melanin. Melanin is the chemical which gives our skin its 'pigmentation' or colour. When too much melanin is produced, the skin becomes darker. Therefore, freckles can vary in shade depending on how much melanin is produced in those small patches.

If you have freckles on your body, you may notice that they can darken and become more apparent in the sun. This is because, when your skin comes into contact with the sun's UV-rays, its natural defence mechanism is to produce more melanin to protect itself. This includes areas of freckles where excess melanin is already produced. Therefore sun can darken freckles and they can become much more difficult to cover up during summer months.

For some of us, freckles are a beautiful way to define our image; they can give our skin character and uniqueness and some of us do not notice our freckles at all! However, there are others who could live without those freckles; for some, freckles can lower self-esteem and become a subject of low mood and lack of confidence. For these people, there is a safe and effective option.

SkinAu's Skin Lightening Pack contains safe ingredients and herbal extracts which slow down the synthesis of melanin on the skin. Their Whitening Day Cream is a deeply nourishing cream which, when applied to your areas of freckles, works to lighten the skin so that your freckled areas become closer to the same pigment as the surrounding skin. For the most sensitive areas of your body, Skinau's Intensive Lightening Gel slows the production of melanin whilst being extremely soothing and non-irritable to sensitive or damaged skin. This can be particularly effective on your hands if they become dry.

Whether you choose to treat your freckles or not, remember that your skin cannot glow without your own self-confidence. Be proud of how beautiful you are, and give your skin the treatment it deserves, by sticking to a regular and effective skin-care routine so that your skin can radiate your confidence all day long.