Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! Can you solve 4 words at once? Get Word of the Day daily email! The meaning of PIGMENTATION is coloration with pigment : the deposition or presence of pigment.

Pigmentation is the unusual darkening of the skin compared to the surrounding areas, due to the presence of extra melanin pigment that gives a darker complexion. The causes of skin pigmentation can be hereditary. The other causes are hormone changes during pregnancy or post-menopause, adrenal gland disorders like Addison's disease, melasma, oral contraceptive pills, post-injury to the skin, acne formation, sunburns, thyroid disorders, and vitamin B12 deficiency. The treatment for pigmentation of the skin consists of the application of corticosteroid cream and calcineurin inhibitor ointments. The application of hydroquinone cream, kojic acid ointment, retinoids, ascorbic acid, and niacinamide is also effective in treating skin pigmentation. The other treatment modalities are phototherapy with narrow-band Ultraviolet B light, removing the depigmentation, skin grafting, blister grafting, and cellular suspension transplant.

WebMD explains pigmentation - the coloring of a person's skin - and what conditions cause too much or too little.

In biology, a pigment is any colored material of plant or animal cells. Many biological structures, such as skin, eyes, fur, and hair contain pigments (such as melanin ). Animal skin coloration often comes about through specialized cells called chromatophores, which animals such as the octopus and chameleon can control to vary the animal's color.