If you’ve noticed a freckle on your wrist, know that you’re definitely not the only one.
Several people have come forward after a post on Twitter/X made a large portion of Internet users realise that they all shared the same feature.
Having a freckle on the wrist isn’t exactly unusual, but the common realisation led some to wonder whether it’s just a coincidence, or if there’s an explanation as to why so many people seem to have the same melanin spot.
Over 10,000 users joined the conversation on Twitter back in 2019, with more sharing their own freckles now the topic has made it onto TikTok. As it turns out, there are at least two explanations for this very common feature, and they both make way more sense than having had a microchip implanted at birth as someone suggested on the beautiful world wide web.
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Back in 2019, TIME magazine asked two doctors about the freckle frenzy, and they both had very simple explanations for what had turned into a real Internet phenomenon.
"Freckles are basically areas of the skin where you have more pigment or melanin deposition from UV radiation," explained Dr Joyce Park, a dermatologist from the Bay Area.
Of course, the arms and wrists are constantly exposed to sunlight when we’re outdoors, so it would make sense for them to have more melanin than other areas. This is particularly true if we think that we often forget to wear sunscreen on our hands and wrists compared to face and shoulders.
“The forearms, the wrists and the hands are really common spots to get that exposure,” Dr Park continued.
“If you think about it, when you’re driving, that side of your wrist and hand are just constantly being exposed to sunlight, even if you’re wearing sleeves.”
However, a New York City dermatologist offered a different reason as to why having dark spots on your hands and wrist is extremely common. According to Dr Joshua Zeichner, what we’re seeing on our wrists aren’t even freckles at all.
"What we are actually seeing in these photos are moles or ‘beauty marks,’" he explained. “These spots are harmless overgrowths of pigment-producing cells, causing small brown spots on the skin,” he added.
Whether freckles or moles, all melanin spots are to be checked regularly for any change in size, shape, or colour. If you’ve noticed a change in appearance, it may be worth checking with your doctor. And, of course, remember to wear sunscreen regardless of the temperatures.
Stefania Sarrubba