melasma Path.
(mɪˈlæzmə)
[mod.L., a. Gr. µέλασµα black spot, black dye, related to µελαίνειν to blacken, f. µελαν-, µέλας black.]
A morbid condition in which there is an excess of the black pigment in the human skin; spec. a skin disease differing from chloasma in the dark colour of the pigment. Also applied to a dark livid spot which occurs on the tibia of old persons.
| 1817 Good Syst. Nosol. 489 Ecthyma... Melasma, Plenck, Linn. Vog. 1854 Jones & Siev. Pathol. Anat. 164 The local discolorations, termed ‘melasma’. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 701 Diffuse forms of pigmentation..which are sometimes described under the name of Melasma. |
Hence meˈlasmic a., affected by, of the nature of, melasma.
| 1865 Wilson Cutan. Med. 401 A peculiar discoloration of the eyeball, which we termed melanæmic or melasmic eye. |