And then there is concern about test accuracy. That, according to board-certified dermatologist Peterson Pierre, is a gamble. Beauty-focused DNA tests, according to Pierre, contain up to a 40% false positive rate. He suggested building a solid skin care regimen with the help of a trained professional.

“When it comes to building an effective skin care routine that will deliver results, it’s best to leave that job to the experts, namely your board-certified dermatologist, who has access to the best science and the best products,” Pierre explained.

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For some, freckles can be a nuisance that re-emerges in full force as the summer months roll around. While they themselves are harmless, many want to know how to get rid of freckles and how to prevent them in the first place.

If you have freckles that you want to get rid of, read on to learn more about professional and at-home treatment options.

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I first realized I had acne when I was 11-years old, and my skin looked more, um, colorful than the other girls in my class. Back then, I had no idea how to treat acne and I was even worse at hiding it. People would point and laugh at giant cystic pimples on my cheeks, ask to touch my forehead, and call me a long-list of nicknames that callously described what was happening on my face.

As I got older, I got better at hiding the acne, but not necessarily taking care of it. I would spend hours at beauty counters begging the professionals to try anything on my skin so that my red bumps didn’t show up in photos or become the first impression when I met people. Makeup became my new best friend, but really, it became my skin’s biggest enemy.

I tried every kind of concealer, foundation, airbrush makeup machine, and even once, started using Band-aids on an unruly pimple that I just didn’t feel like worrying about all day. But while it may have boosted my confidence to cover my face in a layer of makeup, it was likely doing me more harm than good.

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