It is a harmless (benign) hyperplasia of melanocytes which is linear in its spread.

Because of this characteristic feature, the adjective "lentiginous" is used to describe other skin lesions that similarly proliferate linearly within the basal cell layer.

Freckles have a relatively normal number of melanocytes but an increased amount of melanin.

[2] Lentigines by themselves are benign,[4] however one might desire the removal or treatment of some of them for cosmetic purposes.

In this case they can be removed surgically,[4][5] or lightened with the use of topical depigmentation agents.