Judy Anastas, age 9, of Bradenton, Fla., for her question:

CAN YOU GET RID OF FRECKLES?

You inherit your freckles, and they are usually with you for life. They usually first appear between the ages of 4 and 8 and become less obvious as a person grows older. However, they usually never disappear completely.

Freckles are caused when the pigment forming cells of the skin are concentrated and produce pigment spots. They can be minimized for some people by avoiding too much exposure to the sun. Bleaches and freckle creams really don't work.

There's no safe way to remove freckles. Since they are harmless, and many people feel they add beauty, if you are lucky enough to have freckles, why not enjoy them?