Word parts
What it means
Darkening of the skin from extra melanin, the pigment made by melanocytemuh-LAN-uh-syteA cell in the bottom layer of the skin's outer layer that makes melanin, the pigment that gives skin and hair their color.melan/o black-cyte cellFull entry s. It can follow sun exposure, acne or injury, pregnancy (dark patches on the face, and a dark line down the belly), some drugs, and hormone conditions such as Addison disease. Freckles and age spots are common, harmless kinds.
For the nurse
Note new or changing dark spots, and teach clients to watch moles for changes in shape, border, color or size. Sunscreen helps prevent dark patches from getting darker.
At a glance
| Spanish | hiperpigmentación |
|---|---|
| Also written | hyperpigmented |
Related terms
hyper-
A word beginning that means above, over or more than normal.
hirsutism
Thick, dark hair growing in a male-type pattern, such as on the face, chest or back, in a woman.
melanocyte
A cell in the bottom layer of the skin's outer layer that makes melanin, the pigment that gives skin and hair their color.