pigmentation
Meaning of pigmentation: Pigmentation describes both the deposition of pigment in tissue and the resulting degree of coloring, most often referring to melanin's role in skin, hair, and eye color.
Definition of pigmentation
Pigmentation refers to the coloring of tissue produced by the presence of pigment, as well as the biological process by which that pigment is deposited. In everyday clinical use, pigmentation most often refers specifically to the amount and distribution of melanin within the skin, hair, and eyes.
The degree of pigmentation present is determined largely by the activity of melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin, and is influenced by genetic factors as well as external factors such as sun exposure, which can increase melanin production in exposed skin over time.
Changes in pigmentation, including patches of skin that become darker or lighter than the surrounding area, are common findings in dermatology and can result from a wide range of causes, including inflammation, injury, certain medications, and various skin conditions, making the pattern and distribution of a pigmentation change a useful piece of diagnostic information.
Used in a sentence
The dermatologist documented a change in pigmentation on the patient's forearm.
Good to know
A patch of skin that becomes darker or lighter than the surrounding area reflects a local change in pigmentation, which can result from causes as varied as sun exposure, inflammation, or an underlying skin condition.
Word origin
Where “pigmentation” comes from
Formed from Latin pigmentum, meaning coloring matter, combined with the suffix -ation, denoting a process or its result.