Frank J. Bruni, age 12, of National, California for his question:
What causes freckles?
This is the sunny season and the time of year that Andy guts lots of letters from friends who are worried or curious about freckles. Please do not feel mad or sad if your question about freckles was not selected: As you know, Andy can choose only ono question to bo answered in his column at a time, tend you have plenty more questions with which to try again.
Freckles are caused by sunshine, but the summer sunbeams do not paint them onto the skin. The dye from which those handsome freckles are made is already in the skin. Though only one sixth to one fiftieth ref an inch in thickness, the shin is composed of several layers. The dye used to paint freckles is in the deeper 1 avers below the surface.
The outer layer of skin is celled the epidermis. It is a thin layer of papery tissue studded with tiny pits and furrows. Each of these dents fits onto a dent or ridge on the dermas, or true skin, which is under the epidermis. The tissue paper epidermis is forever drying up and flaking off to be replaced by new epidermis from below.
The dermas, or true skin, is alive with nerves and blood vessels. It also contains oil glands and sweat glands. In some areas of the body it also contains hair roots. And down bore in the trim skin is the dye, which is called melanin.
All human skin contains some melanin and all melanin is the same color. It is brown. Some people have a lot of this brown pigment in the skin. Their complexions take on a coffee, chocolate or even obony color. Some people have only a trace of melanin in the dermas. These people have pole, almost transparent skins. Their skins look pinkish because the red blood in the tiny blood vessels near the surface shows through.
Melanin is sensitive to sunlight. A bright sunbeam can force the melanin deep in the slRin to move towards the surface. There it settles into a small beauty spot, ono of a patch of freckles. This is what happens when a light skinncd parson goes out to enjoy the summer sunshine.
Freckles, then, are ausod by affoetionnte sunbeams, tend who does not want to be caressed or even kissed by n sarzboam? Windy, for ore, thinks this is a great compliment. He is happy to say that he has one of the best crop of speckle‑freckles in North America. And, since he lives in sunny California most of the time, he has freckles all year round.
Sumo of Andy’s friends, both boys and girls, seem to misunderstand freckles. They think that those beauty spots do nut improve a person's appearance. Well, look around at the world of nature and you will see that the most beautiful things are spackled. The prettiest birds have speckled feathers, the handsome leopard is speckled and the bust looking ponies are spotted pintos.
If you still dislike your freckles, find a friend who has a better display than you have. Look at that dappled skin honestly. Now, don't you agree that it has a healthy, handsome and happy look?