What term describes increased pigmentation of the skin?

The term that describes increased pigmentation of the skin is hyper-pigmentation. This condition occurs when certain areas of the skin produce more melanin than normal, leading to an uneven skin tone or darker patches. It can be a result of various factors, such as sun exposure, hormonal changes, or post-inflammatory responses from skin injuries or conditions.

In contrast, hypo-pigmentation refers to reduced or absent melanin in the skin, resulting in lighter patches. Dermatitis is a general term for skin inflammation that may not necessarily involve changes in pigmentation, focusing instead on the symptoms like redness, swelling, or itching. Excess melanin is a description of the substance responsible for the pigmentation but does not serve as a term that defines the overall condition seen in hyper-pigmentation. Thus, hyper-pigmentation specifically identifies the phenomenon of increased skin color due to excess melanin production.