Freckles are a distinctive trait that not everyone possesses. Growing prominent in the summer and fading in the winter, freckles change over time, yet never disappear. These little brown specks don’t appear on just anyone; luckily, I happen to be one of the chosen few.

With 101 and counting, “freckle face” is a term I have grown all too familiar with. Not knowing where these magical spots came from, I embarked on a quest not only to find other freckle faces like me, but also to uncover the mystery of what makes “the freckle” so unique.

“Ephelis,” Dermatologist Alan E. Lasser said, “is the medical term for a freckle. They come from skin pigmentation and reside in the bottom-most layer of the epidermis. Getting freckles is based on the amount of pigment produced and how a person’s pigment cells react.”

This definition was much more intricate than what students had to say, most of them referring to freckles as “brown spots.”

Having only the pastiest of skin, it is natural for the “brown spots” on my face to stick out like a sore thumb. Being four years old and fed up, I tried numerous tactics to get rid of these permanent marks. After trying a cucumber remedy and constantly rubbing my skin, the only result I received was a red and swollen face. This was clearly an unsuccessful attempt.

Feeling my pain, Lizzie Wojtowicz, freshman in LAS, also tried getting rid of her freckles.

“When I was little, I tried using my friend’s acclaimed freckle remover all over my face. I later found out it was zit cream … needless to say, it didn’t work!” Wojtowicz said.

Unlike Wojtowicz and me, Sarah Manuel, sophomore in LAS, has a more enlightening freckle tale.

“Once my sister realized her freckles made a pattern above her eye, she stopped wearing less eye makeup. As for me, I am a ginger with freckles … it hasn’t been hard to stand out in a crowd.”

Whether they are your enemy or your accessory, freckles aren’t always easy to spot. Tom Brese, senior in LAS, claimed that on any given day, he “would maybe see around 15 (people) that had freckles.”

Wojtowicz agrees, and estimated seeing one in ten on a daily basis.

If that doesn’t scream rare breed, I don’t know what does.

Since the people of “our kind” aren’t spotted often, the correlation between freckles and lightly colored skin is common.

Many can’t deny the image of an Irish ginger when picturing a freckled person.

Though this stereotype is often true, Dr. Lasser points out that freckles can be seen on all skin types.

“African Americans and Caucasians contain the same number of pigment cells. Because of this, some light-colored Africans do get freckles,” he said.

Since my childhood years, I haven’t tried any remedies to make my freckles vanish. Realizing how rare this trait actually is, I have come to embrace the magical spots I have. Whether referred to as “Ephelis face” or “Irish ginger,” these brown spots will continue to signify the unique qualities of a rare and precious breed.

Turns out that the meaning of freckles is more than just skin deep after all.

_Kelly is a freshman in LAS._