depigment
Strip away pigment
To depigment is to remove or reduce pigment—the substance that gives color to skin, hair, or other tissue.
The term appears most often in dermatology, where skin may be depigmented deliberately to treat conditions like vitiligo, or unintentionally as a side effect of chemicals or injury: The cream gradually depigmented the affected areas.
Natural coloring compound
- melanocytesPigment-producing skin cells
- eumelaninBrown-black biological pigment
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
- geneticsScience of hereditary transmission
mutation · enzyme · pathway · inhibition · destruction · transfer · epidermis · dermis
Aromatic compound, two OH groups
- bleachingChemical color removal
- whiteningMaking something lighter
- lighteningMaking lighter in weight/shade
- creamRich milk fat
serum · niacinamide · retinoid · laser · cryotherapy · microdermabrasion · glutathione · exfoliation
Pigment-producing skin cells
- patchesPieces sewn over holes
- autoimmuneBody attacks itself
- dermatologyStudy of skin ailments
- phototherapyHealing through light exposure
camouflage · immunomodulators · topical · steroids · segmental · spreading · symmetrical · focal
Lacking color intensity
- pallorUnhealthy facial whiteness
- blanchingBriefly boiling then cooling
- wanPale and unwell-looking
- colorlessDevoid of pigmentation
splotchy · mottled · uneven · patchy · discolored · faded · contrast · blotchy
Inherited melanin deficiency
- nevusPigmented dermal lesion
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
- biopsyTissue sample for diagnosis
- dermatologistDoctor treating skin disorders
congenital · acquired · localized · generalized · progressive · stable · treatment · prognosis
melanin
Natural coloring compound
- melanocytesPigment-producing skin cells
- eumelaninBrown-black biological pigment
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
genetics · mutation · enzyme · pathway · inhibition · destruction · transfer · epidermis · dermis · cellular
hydroquinone
Aromatic compound, two OH groups
- bleachingChemical color removal
- whiteningMaking something lighter
- lighteningMaking lighter in weight/shade
cream · serum · niacinamide · retinoid · laser · cryotherapy · microdermabrasion · glutathione · exfoliation · over-the-counter
melanocytes
Pigment-producing skin cells
- patchesPieces sewn over holes
- autoimmuneBody attacks itself
- dermatologyStudy of skin ailments
phototherapy · camouflage · immunomodulators · topical · steroids · segmental · spreading · symmetrical · focal · universal
pale
Lacking color intensity
colorless · splotchy · mottled · uneven · patchy · discolored · faded · contrast · blotchy · marbled
albinism
Inherited melanin deficiency
dermatologist · congenital · acquired · localized · generalized · progressive · stable · treatment · prognosis