Do freckles protect the skin from actinic damage?

Epidermal sunburn (SB) cells were counted 24 h after exposure of the skin to suprathreshold doses of solar simulated radiation. The sites compared were evenly pigmented black skin and freckled white skin. SB cell numbers were dose related in all cases. There were fewer SB cells in black than white skin following equivalent erythemogenic doses of UVR. Equal doses of UVR produced fewer SB cells in freckled than non-freckled white skin. Freckles provide a significant degree of protection against acute sunburn.