Final answer:
Hypopigmentation is the loss of skin color, leading to smooth spots of lighter discoloration on the skin.
Step-by-step explanation:
In dermatology, hypopigmentation refers to the loss of skin color. This condition is characterized by smooth spots of discoloration on the skin that appear lighter than the surrounding tissue.
It is often seen in skin diseases such as vitiligo, where there is a decline or absence of melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing the melanin pigment that determines the color of hair and skin. Hypopigmentation may also occur as a skin's response to certain types of injury or inflammation, leading to an irregular production of melanin.
It is different from hyperpigmentation, which involves an increased production of melanin by melanocytes, often resulting in darkened areas on the skin. Hyperpigmentation is not a loss of skin color but rather an increase, which can be seen in certain conditions like Addison's disease.