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What Are Freckles?
Freckles are caused by concentrated melanin that appears as clusters of flat, light brown or red spots on the skin. Melanin is a dark pigment that is produced to protect the top layers of skin from the sun's potentially damaging effects. Some people and animals are born without any melanin at all, which results in a genetic condition called "albinism." The tendency to develop freckles is also genetic and they usually fade in the winter, when sun exposure decreases.
Humans and Freckles
Humans are the most common animals with visible freckles, because of the large amount of skin regularly exposed to the sun. Freckles are most often visible on people with a fair complexion, but can be found on people with a wide variety of skin tones. Freckles are not harmful to your health, but some people choose to lighten or remove their freckles using procedures such as laser removal, chemical peels and microdermabrasion.
Animals With Freckles
Animals such as cats and dogs can develop freckles anywhere that their skin is exposed to the sun and many develop freckles as they get older. Common places for freckles to appear include the skin on their muzzles, noses and gums, as well as around or inside their ears. Cats are also prone to a condition called lentigo simplex, which causes black spots to appear on exposed skin. Although these spots are not freckles and are not caused by exposure to the sun, they are also completely harmless.
Animals With Markings That Resemble Freckles
Some animals have markings that resemble freckles, but are not not caused by concentrated melanin. For instance, the freckled python, also known as the Indonesian water python or Macklot's python, has a pale heads with a yellow throat and a dark body with pale freckle-like markings. Some polar bears also appear to have freckles on their faces and heads, but these darker patches are the result of whisker pigmentation or missing hair.