pigmentation
2 synonyms and 1 antonym for pigmentation, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The natural colouring of skin, hair, eyes or other living tissue, produced by pigments such as melanin.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
depigmentation
How to use pigmentation
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
skin pigmentation
hyperpigmentation
loss of pigmentation
uneven pigmentation
post-inflammatory pigmentation
Neutral and scientific in the first sense; in skincare marketing 'pigmentation' alone usually means unwanted dark patches.
Etymology
From pigment, from Latin pigmentum meaning 'colouring matter', from pingere 'to paint', plus the suffix -ation.
Full origin of pigmentation →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation is skin that has become darker than the surrounding area because of excess melanin, as in sun spots and melasma. Hypopigmentation is skin that has lost pigment and appears lighter, as in vitiligo or some scars.
What causes pigmentation on the face?
The commonest triggers are sun exposure, hormonal change including pregnancy and the contraceptive pill, and inflammation from acne or injury, which leaves post-inflammatory marks. Some medicines and genetic factors also play a part.
Is pigmentation the same as melanin?
No. Melanin is the pigment itself, made by cells called melanocytes. Pigmentation is the resulting colour of the tissue, which depends on how much melanin is produced and how it is distributed.
