Melasma
/məˈlæz.mə/noun
A skin condition marked by brown or gray-brown patches, usually on the face.
Did you know?Melasma comes from Greek melas, meaning “black” or “dark,” the same ancient root behind words like melancholy and melanoma—proof that language has been mapping darkness for thousands of years.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
μέλας (melas)
“black, dark”
Ancient Greek
Greek
μέλασμα (melasma)
“a dark spot or discoloration”
Late Latin
Latin
melasma
“dark skin blemish or discoloration”
19th Century
English
melasma
“a darkening or discoloration of the skin, especially on the face”
Modern English
English
melasma
“a skin condition causing brown or gray-brown patches, usually on the face”
Explore more surprising origins