These days, every time I look in the mirror, I wonder what causes my freckles.

As the weather gets cooler, I thought the sun wasn't as strong as it used to be. But every time I look in the mirror, I notice the freckles around my cheekbones becoming more and more noticeable, which is frustrating. I used to feel like my skin would quickly return to normal even after spending a lot of time outdoors, but now the marks seem to linger for quite some time. What exactly causes freckles? I'm desperate to know for sure, so I'm scouring the internet every night. I've heard genetics are a factor, but seeing them suddenly darken makes me wonder if it's a problem with my lifestyle or sunscreen, which is frustrating. Understanding the cause of my freckles will help me decide how to manage them, but I'm really struggling to figure out if they're simply a part of the aging process or if there's a specific cause I'm overlooking. Trying to cover them up with makeup is limiting, and it just makes my skin look dull, which is frustrating. Has anyone else experienced similar issues and found success or knows a good management method? I'm really curious to know what your routine is.