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melanoderma

melanoderma

9.9
Dark skin in an area caused by extra melanin
  • noun
  • /ˌmɛləˈnoʊdərmə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : melanodermia
  • The dermatologist diagnosed him with melanoderma after noticing pronounced skin darkening.

Examples

  • Sun exposure can worsen melanoderma in susceptible individuals.

  • After years of medication, the patient developed melanoderma on her arms.

  • She was diagnosed with melanoderma last year.

  • The doctor explained that melanoderma can be caused by various factors.

  • The dermatologist diagnosed him with melanoderma after noticing pronounced skin darkening.

  • Sun exposure can worsen melanoderma in susceptible individuals.

  • After years of medication, the patient developed melanoderma on her arms.

Synonyms

hyperpigmentation
vsmelanoderma
  • Specialized
1 7.7

Skin that becomes darker in some areas because it has more colour, often after sun, injury, or illness

focuses specifically on melanin deposits causing abnormal skin darkening
melanosis
vsmelanoderma
  • Specialized
9.7

Dark patches that form when the body stores extra pigment, often on the skin

is generalized darkening of skin rather than localized dark patches
melanism
vsmelanoderma
  • Specialized
9.7

A condition in which animals and people have extra dark pigment and very dark skin, fur or feathers

refers only to abnormal dark skin rather than pigmentation of other tissues

Antonyms

hypopigmentation
  • Specialized
1 8.8

A part of the skin that is lighter than normal because it has less color

How Dark

melanism
  • Specialized
9.7
melanoderma
  • Specialized
9.9
hyperpigmentation
  • Specialized
1 7.7

Surface Forms

melanoderma singular
melanodermas plural

Morphology

melanoderma = melano + derma

The meaning is compositionally 'dark' + 'skin' (melano- + -derma), so the relation is direct for learners familiar with medical combining forms, but these combining forms are technical and may be unfamiliar to an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Melanoderma comes from Greek parts melano- meaning 'black', the same root in melanin, and -derma meaning 'skin', as in dermatologist. So it literally means 'black skin', which is why melanoderma describes unusually dark skin when the body makes more melanin.