Throughout history, freckles have been marveled at, feared, and mocked. Back in medieval times, freckles were even considered “witches’ marks.” While there’s no proof that freckles are magical, there are studies revealing that freckles come with some biological strengths not found in other skin types.

Hey, if we have to bear the burden of a lifetime of sunburns and teasing, it’s only fair that our freckles come with a few super powers.

Freckled People Age Better, According to Science

Well, most likely. A study conducted at Erasmus University found that people with the MC1R gene variation (which is responsible for freckles and also red hair) had a perceived age around two years younger than their biological age.

It’s not all about vanity though, the reasoning behind this perceived youthfulness is because the MC1R gene variation also impacts biological processes like DNA repair. Long live you freckled people!

Freckles Make Our Skin More Resilient to Pain

Thanks to the MC1R gene mutation found in freckled people, we perceive pain and stimulus differently. The Melanocortin-1 receptor does far more than determine if we’ll tan or have freckles. It’s located in the part of the brain the interprets feelings of pain and discomfort.

When Jeffrey Mogil, a McGill University behavioral neuroscientist, conducted a study in pain perception, his team found that redheads/freckle havers needed less Opioids to dull pain than people without the MC1R gene mutation.

Freckles may make us sensitive to the sun’s rays, but overall, most freckled people will have a higher pain tolerance.

Freckled People Don’t Need the Sun (As Much)

Vitamin D is important. It keeps bones growing in children and keeps them strong in adults. And a vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a wide range of issues including depression and certain cancers.

Typically, when sunlight strikes the skin the human body transforms the UVB light into vitamin D3. We can also ingest it through foods like salmon. However, for the freckled who are more sun averse, it might lead one to think that we have a severe vitamin D deficiency. But that’s not the case.

The MC1R gene mutation actually allows for freckled people to make their own vitamin D in low-light conditions, making it possible for our health to thrive without prolonged exposure to the sun. It’s our genetic super power to stay in the shade or covered in sunscreen and still produce just as much vitamin D as our sun bathing friends.

What’s your freckled super power? Comment or write me at freckledtheblog@gmail.com