mɛləˈniːmɪə

Definitions

1. noun

A rare condition in which the skin takes on a dark brown or black color due to an abnormal production of melanin, often resulting in hyperpigmentation of the skin and mucous membranes.

“The patient was diagnosed with melanemia, a condition that causes her skin to darken in unusual patterns.”

2. noun

A rare condition in which there is a decrease in the number of melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing melanin, which leads to a reduction in skin pigmentation.

“The doctor suspected that the patient’s melanemia was caused by a genetic mutation that affected the melanocytes.”