A man in his 30s wondering about the cause of his freckles...ㅠ

Hello. I'm a man in my late 30s who's become increasingly interested in skin care. Recently, I've been noticing brown spots on both cheekbones and under my eyes. Are these freckles? I rarely look in the mirror, so I haven't examined my skin closely, but upon closer inspection, I see small brown spots here and there that seem larger in area than the freckles. Are these freckles? Do freckles get darker and larger if left untreated?

What is the fundamental cause of melasma? Could aging or UV rays, such as sunlight, be the cause? I'm also curious about whether it's common in men. I'd appreciate it if you could tell me about daily care methods that can prevent pigmentation from deepening or spreading, as well as dermatological treatments that can effectively address the underlying cause.